Campaigners celebrate as council agrees plan to protect Peterborough meadow

Tenter Hill Meadow, north of Thistle Drive in Stanground, was “gifted to the people of Peterborough” many decades ago including the condition that it was to have been “protected and maintained” as an open space by the city council.

When a planning application for 28 flats on the site, to include six affordable homes, was made by Medesham Homes - a joint housing venture from Cross Keys Home and Peterborough City Council - residents launched a vocal campaign to oppose the plans.

The city council’s own planning committee turned down the plans but an appeal was lodged.

A petition signed by 3,640 people was submitted to the city council asking it to re-consider an appeal by Medesham Homes, but the appeal was lodged regardless, and at Peterborough taxpayers’ expense.

In September last year that appeal was turned down and now Peterborough City Council has put the final piece in place to save the meadow from ever being developed.
By opting to create a 999-year lease on ‘Tenter Hill Meadow’ in Stanground, the land will remain a Public Open Space, as campaigned for by locals.
In October 2019 Peterborough City Council agreed a motion for Tenter Hill Meadow, Stanground to be protected in perpetuity.
The motion read: “This council, therefore, resolves to: consider all suitable mechanisms, such as designation as a town/village green or as an area of local green space, which would protect this land from development in order to ensure that the residents of Peterborough are able to enjoy the open space provided by the land for all generations to come.”
Since then, the Council has looked at available options to protect the land.

The options considered were:
- Option 1 - Do nothing: The planning authority’s view is that as the land has recently had a refusal both by the council, and on appeal, and the recently adopted Local Plan presumes against the development,so there is almost no possibility of any developer being able to secure a planning permission for residential development. However, it was considered that the council (as landowner), or a successor in title to the landowner, could submit a scheme with fewer units which might then find favour with the Local Planning Authority (LPA), or the Local Plan might be reviewed in five years’ time.
- Option 2 – Asset of Community Value: This option would be open to a community group to apply to the LPA to register the land as an Asset of Community Value. It was considered that the limitation of this option is that the registration would only last for five years and it could only delay a sale to a developer, not prevent it.
- Option 3 - Voluntary registration of Village Green: There is a statutory mechanism whereby a landowner (with the consent of any lessees/mortgagees) can voluntarily register land as a village green. This is in practice an irreversible step, and it would be almost impossible to release the land once registered. Further, it would be most difficult to permit even modest sized buildings on the land.
- Option 4 - Long Lease: A long lease to a non-profit organisation with a covenant for the land to remain as public open space. It has been considered that there is the possibility that the lessee could seek to have such covenants released after 25 years, but it would still be an uphill task as the council could no doubt then still demonstrate that the covenants served a useful purpose.

Having reviewed the four options, Cllrs Peter Hiller and Christian Hogg determined that the council would pursue a lease with Nene Park Trust for a term of 999 years.

The lease will be subject to a covenant for the land to remain as Public Open Space, with the council continuing to be responsible for the ground’s maintenance for the first three years, following which the responsibility will pass to Nene Park Trust.

Campaigners, led by local resident Pat Corcoran, who started the ‘Save Tenter Hill Meadow’ Campaign in the summer of 2018, with the help of Cllrs Christian Hogg, Chris Wiggin and former councillor John Whitby worked for over a year and a half to ensure that the piece of land known as ‘Tenter Hill Meadow’ would not be developed.

Speaking from her home just meters from the now protected meadowland, Pat Corcoran, said: “This is a wonderful result for the people of Stanground and for Peterborough.

“I have to admit I was a bit cautious when I was first told of this matter because none of the campaign group, including myself, were part of the consultation process, which is a bit strange considering how hard we all fought to get to this stage.

“That said, this is the best possible outcome for Tenter Hill Meadow and, as a member of Peterborough Yacht Club, I know the high quality of work done by Nene Park Trust, so we’re in good hands for the future.

“The people of Stanground, the people of Peterborough showed that people power can win out over big developers and their plans if you’re determined enough.”

Cllr Christian Hogg echoed Pat Corcoran’s words, adding: “This was a piece of land that just had to saved – it’s used by the locals for picnics and as a play-area for children, dog-walkers and of course the local scouts who have their hut right on the edge of the green.

“More than 1,500 cyclists use the cycleway getting to and from Whittlesey every day, not to mention the bridleway for the horses, access to the lock house and the walkers and joggers.

“It is a unique little eco-system for wildlife, flora and fauna, and it would’ve been a tragedy if we’d lost this peaceful piece of land to development.

“It put Cllr Peter Hiller in a tricky position as a director of developers Medesham Homes, because he knows how much we need affordable housing in that area; but he’s accepted this outcome as the best for all concerned.”
This latest step should now protect Tenter Hill Meadow for those who use it, for the people of Stanground and for the people of Peterborough.