Plans for 25 homes in Eye rejected due to nesting bats

Peterborough City Council’s planning department has refused a planning application submitted for Cranmore House in Thorney Road.

The proposals from Cranmore Developments Ltd were for two and three bedroom homes, including one bungalow, although none would have been classed as ‘affordable’.

Outlining its reasons for the decision, the council said: “The buildings to be demolished have been identified as having a potential for nesting bats and the application has not been accompanied by a robust ecological assessment which determines whether there are bats that would be impacted upon by the proposal.

“As such, the proposal has failed to demonstrate that it would not adversely impact upon, or make provision for, protected species.

“Further, the development has not demonstrated that it would make provision for a satisfactory improvements towards biodiversity net gain.”

The site has previously received planning permission for 14 dwellings which has now elapsed.

A second application for 22 homes was refused both by the council and on appeal.

Eye Parish Council had objected to the latest plans, describing them as “an overdevelopment of the site”.