Councillors Sebastian Kindersley, Susan van de Ven, and Peter McDonald.
- Credit: Chris Sidell
County councillors have criticised central government after a Freedom of Information request - sent by the South West Cambridgeshire Action Group to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government - on the proposed new town was refused.
The request was for information relating to a Cambridge ‘Development Corporation’ – a central government vehicle for creating new towns that bypasses normal planning processes.
The Action Group is seeking to understand whether or not the Development Corporation is tied to the proposal by Thakeham developers for a new town of 25,000 homes, announced last month.
South Cambs Tories and Lib Dems clash over government role in 25,000 new home development
A developer has proposed a 25,000-home new town and villages to the south west of Cambridge
South Cambridgeshire s Conservative MP, Anthony Browne (left), and Heather Williams, the leader of the Conservative group on the district council (right) (Image: South Cambridgeshire Conservatives)
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Anthony Browne - South Cambs MP. Picture: Stephen Frost
- Credit: Archant
The South Cambs Lib Dems have been accused of “peddling fear and conspiracy” over the government’s involvement in a proposal for a 25,000-home new development.
Last month, developer Thakeham revealed plans for a new town and connected villages on land around Barrington, Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth, Foxton, Meldreth, Orwell, Shepreth, Whaddon and Wimpole. It said the development would be the UK’s “first zero-carbon community”. The proposal has no formal planning status, and no planning application has yet been submitted.
Despite key figures from both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives publicly stating opposition to the proposals, it is nonetheless becoming a political battleground.