19 Church Street Steeple Morden Cambridgeshire SG8 0NJ

1. 1.The proposed development would be primarily outside the development framework of Steeple Mordern and within the countryside. Policy S/7 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2018) states that outside development frameworks, only allocations within Neighbourhood Plans that have come into force and development for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, outdoor recreation and other uses which need to be located in the countryside or where supported by other policies in this plan will be permitted. There are no other policies which support the proposed development outside the framework. The propsoal would result in enchroachment to the countryside and therefore be contrary to Policy S/7 of South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2018).
2. 2.By virtue of its location and layout, the proposed development would cause significant harm to the rural and open character of the countryside. The proposal would through the imposition of hardstanding and residential development within a rural and open landscape, adversly impact and urbanise the rural and open characater of the site. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Policies S/7, HQ/1 and NH/2 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2018) that seek to ensure all development would be high-quality and would preserve the character of the local area and landscape.
3. 3.The proposal would erode the special qualities of this part of the Conservation Area and negatively impact the setting of the surrounding listed buildings, and would therefore result in a moderate less than substantial harm to the grade II listed pub and cottages, grade II* listed church and to the character and appearance of the Steeple Morden (St Peter and St Paul) Conservation Area. The public benefits are not considered to outweigh this harm. The proposal is contrary to Policy NH/14 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (2018), paragraphs 212 and 213 of the NPPF (2024) and Section 66(1) and Section 72(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

SG8 0NJ

Application type

Outline Application

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Steeple Morden CP

District

South Cambridgeshire District Council

Date validated

21 November 2025

Consultation expiry

3 December 2025

Last date for comments

30 January 2026

Target decision date

16 January 2026

Agent

Barker Parry Town Planning Ltd

Agent address

33 Bancroft Hitchin SG5 1LA

Statutory period

56 days

Last advertised

3 December 2025

Site notice start

9 January 2026

Documents

47