Countryside wins planning for huge Cambridge extension

Housebuilder Countryside has been granted a host of planning permissions for its 2,550-home Glebe Farm and Clay Farm schemes on the outskirts of Cambridge.

The builder has been granted outline permission for the whole scheme, as well as detailed permission for the 286-home first phase, which will be sited on the Glebe Farm site.

The firm said it would start work on the scheme straight away, despite losing a battle with Cambridge Council earlier in the year over the amount of affordable housing required on the development, which it said at the time could make it unviable to build. It said the first new homes would be finished by next Easter.

Countryside has also been given permission for a spine road to service the development. It said work would start on the wider Clays Farm scheme in 2011.

Robin Hoyles, subsidiary managing director at Countryside Properties, said: “These planning consents are the green light for delivery to begin of a much needed and sustainable extension to Cambridge.  At Clay and Glebe Farm the majority of the new homes will be family houses with gardens to help to address the shortage of family housing in Cambridge.”