South Cambridgeshire builders’ yard could become new homes, an eco-business park or Travellers’ site

A builder’s yard in South Cambridgeshire could become homes, an eco business park, or provide space for Gypsy and Traveller families, after a developer put forward three separate sets of plans.

Three planning applications have been submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council to redevelop the Centenary Works, in Button End, Harston.

Mr Willers, the applicant behind all three plans, said each of the proposals would meet an “undeniable and appropriate” need in the area.

The first application is to demolish the existing buildings and build eight bungalows, each with private gardens and two off-road parking spaces “for young families and professionals looking to move to the area with a fantastic sustainable location”.

The second application seeks to convert the site into an eco business park for small businesses, offering eight “modern and green” small industrial units, each with a green flat roof, solar panels and electric car charging points.

Under the third application, seven Gypsy and Traveller pitches would be created, each with room for a static caravan, a touring caravan, an amenity building, a shed and parking for two cars. A children’s play area is included to the back of the site and a site manager’s office is proposed at the front of the site.

The documents highlighted a protest last year outside The Guildhall in Cambridge over the lack of Gypsy and Traveller sites in the area.

While the business park plan could “marginally” increase the number of cars travelling to the site, the other two would reduce the number of people travelling to the site, the applicant said.