Hanley Grange eco-town scaled back

Developers have scaled back plans for a proposed eco-town in South Cambridgeshire after a medical charity refused to sell its land.

The Wellcome Trust had been approached to sell its 109 hectares at Hinxton Estate to developer Jarrow Investments, which was planning a 13,000-home eco-town called Hanley Grange.

Following strong local opposition to the plans, the charity announced it would not sell its land to allow the proposed town to go ahead.

Jarrow Investments said it was now planning a 6,500-home town on the 264 hectares of land under its control.

Hanley Grange project director Nick West said: “Although the Wellcome Trust’s decision is disappointing, the reduced size makes the proposals easier to design and deliver.

“With reduced housing numbers over a smaller site, we can now create an eco-town with sustainable densities that will deliver the environmentally friendly benefits of the original proposals while minimising the effects of the scheme on the surrounding communities."