Turmoil over house building plans

Two of Huntingdonshire's councillors quit the administration over the controversial plans to build on car parks in St Neots, St Ives, and Huntingdon.

Huntingdonshire District Council’s two Green councillors have withdrawn from the authority’s joint administration amid concerns over proposals to build homes on town centre car parks.

Councillors Lara Davenport-Ray and Stephen Ferguson said they had lost confidence in the Liberal Democrat-led administration, leaving it without an overall majority.

Their decision follows controversy over regeneration proposals for council-owned sites in St Neots, St Ives and Huntingdon.

Developer Capital & Centric has unveiled plans that could see Tebbutts Road car park in St Neots replaced with 83 homes and green space. Proposals also include 120 homes, a gym and restaurants in St Ives, while Huntingdon bus station and Princes Street car park could make way for 78 homes.

Cllr Ferguson said the proposals were significantly different from the exploratory regeneration work approved by the council’s cabinet in July 2025.

He said: “Cabinet never approved building on Tebbutts Road car park, or the similar sites in St Ives and Huntingdon.”

Cllr Davenport-Ray said the Greens were no longer confident the administration was prioritising the principles on which their partnership had been founded.

The proposals which aired on social media just last week have caused huge upset in the town. A Facebook group called The Tebbutts Road Alliance has been set up and already has almost 1000 members. The public meeting arranged by Capital & Centric, due to be held at the Ferro Lounge on Tuesday 18th August, was moved to the Market Square as it was believed that the lounge would not be large enough to safely hold everyone who wanted to attend.