Plans to build over 100 new homes in Wilburton have been dropped after the developer failed to meet its own deadlines.

The application to build the 115 homes at Camp’s Field, off Stretham Road, had been met with backlash from many in the village, despite the developer’s claims the project was “community-led”.

The development had been proposed by Stretham and Wilburton Community Land Trust and Laragh Homes Development Ltd.

Of the 115 homes, 80 were proposed to be sold privately with the other 35 designated as Community Land Trust (CLT) houses.

The developer had claimed the project would be “community-led” in its initial submission to East Cambridgeshire District Council back in 2020.

In the planning statement it said: “[The development] will provide the residents in the village of Wilburton with a unique opportunity to play a lead role in shaping their village to meet their future needs.”

The developer also said there would be a “number of benefits” from its plans including CLT affordable homes.

However, the proposals were met with backlash in the village, with 61 objections being formally lodged against the development.

People in the village also formed a community group to campaign against the plans called ‘Save Wilburton from over development’.

The group said the proposed development was “unwanted and unsupported” and had “been a plague” on the village community.

In February the group told the district council that the developer had “failed to provide evidence of general community support”, and said in a survey undertaken by Wilburton Parish Council 135 of the 179 respondents had said they were opposed to the plans.

Documents published by the district council show that in February the developer had suggested a timetable for when it would be submitting further information the authority needed.

At the time the developer told the district council it was “comfortable” that the suggested timescales were “deliverable”

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However, earlier this month the district council said it had not received any of this information and explained that it planned to treat the application as “finally disposed of”.

A letter published by the authority said: “The period for decision making in this case has now expired and no appeal has been made to the Secretary of State.

“Accordingly, after April 26, 2024, it is my intention to finally dispose of the application in accordance with Article 40(13) of the order and take no further action on it.”

The district council subsequently published its formal confirmation that the application had been “finally disposed of”.