Residents have called on East Cambridgeshire District Council to review its decision to approve 540 homes in Soham amid claims of "bias". 

Solicitors acting on behalf of the Qua Fen Common Action Group claimed the decision breached the district council's code of conduct.  

It follows an extraordinary planning committee meeting on August 13, when proposals by Cambridgeshire County Council's This Land Limited for the development on land west of the A142, were approved. 

The plans have faced significant backlash locally, with more than 280 objections formally lodged.

Objectors warned the development, which includes plans for a new healthcare facility, would threaten the nearby Commons. 

Phillip Duff, attended the meeting along with other action group members, and said the presence of two county councillors, posed a "conflict of interest". 

He told the Ely Standard: "Cllr Bill Hunt and Cllr Alan Sharp are members of both the district and county council, and voted in favour of the application. 

"This was despite them having declared their interest in proceedings and also representing the owners of the site, the county council.

"We tried to raise a point of order in the meeting because we didn't think they should take part in a meeting, especially Cllr Hunt who chairs the committee." 

The letter, published by Staploe Solicitors, said that as owners of This Land Limited, the county council would "benefit from the decision". 

It added that the group considered the decision "fundamentally unsound" and would likely "erode public confidence" in the district council. 

Both councillors declared their interest as members of the county council but distanced themselves from the company.

Cllr Hunt said he had not been involved in decision-making in relation to the company and would participate in the meeting. 

The group argued that the motion, which passed by seven votes to two with one abstention, would not have been carried without the votes of the Cllr Hunt and Sharp. 

They also argued that Cllr Hunt "improperly" opened the floor to the organisation set to run the development's new medical centre.

Mr Duff added: "They should have just withdrawn themselves from the meeting because any right thinking person looking at the evidence would see the element of bias with their presence. 

"Our objective isn't to attempt to overturn the vote or questions its merits, bur rather to ensure that decisions of this magnitude are made following procedure that is both correct and transparent."

A spokesperson for East Cambridgeshire District Council said: “East Cambridgeshire District Council have responded to the claims made in the letter from Staploe Solicitors LLP, on behalf of Qua Fen Common Action Group, that it did not follow the correct process when its planning committee approved a 540-home development in Soham. 

"The council disputes the claims made and has confirmed that any claim for a judicial review will be resisted."