Council rejects 5,000 homes plan

5,000 homes are planned for the new settlement in Cambs

Plans to build a new 5,000-home town in Cambridgeshire have been rejected by a district council.

The scheme for the Mereham development between the villages of Wilburton and Stretham was refused by members of East Cambridgeshire District Council.

At a meeting on Wednesday, members backed a recommendation from planning officers that the plans be rejected.

The authority had received objections from neighbouring parish councils who feared a loss of village identity.

The parish councils were also concerned about increases in traffic on nearby roads.