A proposed retirement village in Huntingdonshire has been given the green light by the Planning Inspectorate after a five day public inquiry.

The proposals are for a retirement complex, made up of 57 flats and 16 cottages, fit with communal facilities and parking on Cambridge Street in St Neots. 

It would be built on the site currently occupied by the TC Harrison Ford garage.

The developer, Churchill Living, asked for a public inquiry into their plans after Huntingdonshire District Council failed to issue a decision about the development in the required time.

The Planning Inspectorate-led inquiry began on November 5. The inspector leading the inquiry allowed the appeal and granted planning permission for the village to go ahead. 

The TC Harrison Ford garage will be demolished.The TC Harrison Ford garage will be demolished. (Image: Google Maps) As a result, the TC Harrison Ford garage will be demolished.

The inquiry identified the main issues with the development - whether it would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area and the Grade II listed buildings around the plot, and whether it would affect the living conditions of neighbouring properties.

The inspector found that the existing site, the TC Harrison garage, is an "anomaly" within the historical street, and found that the retirement village will enhance the road.

Previously concerns had been raised from nearby residents about the height of the development and whether or not it would block natural sunlight and compromise their privacy.

However, these concerns were dismissed following the Sunlight Assessment submitted by Churchill Living, which found that there will be no harm to living conditions in nearby properties.

The inspector wrote: "Given the combination of the proposed design, layout, scale, separation distances and orientation, the proposed change will not be of a magnitude that will cause mutual unacceptable levels of overshadowing or overlooking.

"Neither will it give rise to an oppressive outlook for the occupants of existing and future properties."

The inspector found that there is "no conflict" with the development plan as a whole, subject to proposed conditions and planning obligations.