The Parish Council want to bring you up-to-date with regard to the above proposed development.

The field owned by CEMEX adjacent to Challis Close and Challis Green has been the subject of ongoing discussions with the Green Charity for many years with regard to a possible housing development. It is outside the village development area but does qualify for affordable housing. The South Cambridgeshire District Council is prepared to give Outline Planning Permission for 32 dwellings to be built, with a future potential for a further 7. The field access road is of insufficient width for the required County Council approved highway.

CEMEX has asked The Green Charity to exchange part of the Village Green, approx 0.4 acres (1,618 sq m), referred to as the Access Land, for an adjacent piece of land 0.21 acres (860 sq m). In addition, CEMEX would donate an area of land covering 1.8 acres (7,282 sq m), being the central area of the development, on completion to The Green Charity for incorporation into the Village Green, together with an Establishment Sum of £9,688 towards its future maintenance and the sum of £125,000 less the Establishment Sum. A valuation of the Access Land was provided by the District Auditor.

The Green Charity and its Custodian Trustee Barrington Parish Council have been consulted in detail on the S106 Agreement. We are confident that this working relationship will be continued for the detailed Planning Application which would ensue.

The Green Charity has no hesitation in trying to achieve deregistration of the 0.4 acres, because the gains for Barrington are so high. First and foremost is the opportunity for Barrington to have 32 affordable dwellings. For nearly 50 years, property prices in Barrington have been higher than in surrounding villages, influenced by the impact on the village and its way of life of our very large Village Green. People on low incomes have no possibility of purchasing a home in Barrington, so our children have to move away. The need for affordable homes has been substantiated every time a housing survey has been conducted in Barrington by the District Council and it was highlighted in the responses to the Village Plan questionnaire.

Secondly, the 0.4 acres access land is at the north eastern edge of the Village Green and is crossed by a tarmac Permitted Way access road to the 8 Challis Close residences. In addition a narrow Safer Routes to School tarmac footpath crosses this area; a proper footway to the School forms part of the Planning Application. The Parish Council promotes the continued rear access to our thriving School because of the traffic problems and restricted footway on Haslingfield Road.

Thirdly, a village meeting held last year showed the tremendous support from residents for the housing development. The perimeter area of Village Green to be given up for the access land will be greatly surpassed by the gain in land from CEMEX.

If you have any queries, please contact the Clerk.

Barrington Parish Council, as Trustee to The Green Charity

Clerk to the Trustee, 3 Shepreth Road, Barrington, Cambridge CB22 7SB
Tel: 01223 870786