• The principle of a sustainable urban development in this location has to be considered in the context of relevant planning policy at the national, regional and local level.

• Planning Policy Statement 3 sets out the Governments commitment to improving the affordability and supply of housing in all communities through a step change in housing delivery, and approach to land supply at the local level with a particular emphasis on Local Planning Authorities having an identified and continuous five year supply of deliverable housing land.

• At the regional level the East of England Plan, published in 2008 requires that the Fenland District Council accommodate at least an additional 11,000 dwellings in the plan period to 2021.

• The East of England Plan does not provide specific guidance on the direction of new development in Fenland District to any particular settlement but does acknowledge the role of market towns, beyond the major urban areas of the region as locations for new development to meet housing needs.

• The Fenland District Council in response to the requirements of the East of England Plan is currently moving forward with the preparation of Development Plan Documents, which when adopted will provide the planning policy framework against which sites will be allocated for development and planning applications considered and determined.

• Until the preparation of those Development Plan Documents advance through to adoption, the policies of the Fenland District Local Plan, 1993 which became 'saved policies' at September 2007 are currently applicable in the consideration and determination of planning applications.

• Those 'saved policies' of the Fenland District Local Plan 1993 include Policy WH/H1, as it relates to the principal housing allocation in Whittlesey and in particular land 'North of Eastrea Road'.