It is a historic village which has multiplied in size in recent years and has become home to hi-tech businesses in what is known as the UK's Silicon Valley.

But residents of Cherry Hinton are now fearing a new housing estate of 1,200 homes in their community on the outskirts of Cambridge will be a development too far.

Building work to create Springstead Village on a 138-acre site between the village and Cambridge Airport is well under way with around 200 homes already built.

Many villagers are already moaning about extra traffic and the likelihood it will become a 'nightmare' when the development is fully built by 2030.

While some are supportive of the need for more housing, others are claiming that Cherry Hinton does not have the infrastructure to cope with yet more expansion.

Some are even questioning the need for a new Waitrose convenience store on the development when there is already a Tesco and a Sainsbury's nearby.

Cherry Hinton was a tiny parish when it was mentioned in the Domesday Book drawn up by William the Conqueror after his 1066 victory against King Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

The village had just 1,254 inhabitants in 1931 before it was officially incorporated into Cambridge three years later – but it has grown rapidly in the last 50 years with several new housing estates.

Now it has become a thriving high street and a major employer with several hi-tech computer businesses earning it the title of the UK's Silicon Valley.

Among them is the global headquarters of microprocessor manufacturer Arm, a semiconductor and software design company. 

The original Silicon Valley is located in the southern San Francisco Bay Area of California and is known as a global hub for tech firm headquarters and innovation. 

Meanwhile, the area near the edge of the Fens, including Cherry Hinton, has been dubbed Silicon Fen, in reference to its American tech epicentre. 

But with a recorded population of 9,343 in the UK's 2021 census, locals believe the village has already reached capacity and does not need more homes.

Plans for Springstead Village to have its own primary and secondary schools, a range of shops, community facilities, a village green, cycling infrastructure and allotments have done little to allay fears.

Emma Hyde, 54, said: 'Cambridge is a small city and really is no bigger than a town. The Springstead Village is just one of the new developments being built in the area which is fantastic – but we have not got the roads to cope.

'The roads are choc-a-bloc all the time. People end up sitting in stationary traffic, especially at busy times and if they are on a school run.

'All the new houses round here have doubled the amount of traffic especially in the rush hours and you wonder how we are going to manage.'

Another dog walker said: 'I don't like all the building that is going on. It is making Cambridge way too big and I question the need for it.

'I have lived here most of my life and the demographic has really changed in recent years. There is so much more traffic.

'Luckily for me, I cycle to work so I am not really affected – but others at my workplace have a real problem getting in.'

Retired hairdresser Lynda Nicholson, 77, who lives in Teversham next to Cherry Hinton, said: 'I hate the new estate. I think the new houses look horrible. There is nothing appealing about them.

'You are lucky if each house has a single car parking space while these days most families have a couple of cars. Where are they all going to park?

'It just seems like they want to build on every bit of spare land around here. There is enough traffic on the roads already and all these new homes just make it worse. I dread to think what it is going to be like when it is finished.'

Bricklayer Simon Wisbey, 59, said: 'It is bad enough at rush hours as it is without adding God knows how many more houses.

'They put in temporary traffic lights when they were creating the new entrance to the development and that led to traffic snarling up.

'The trouble with Cambridge is that everywhere you look, they are building new houses, but nothing is done to improve the roads. We have enough houses without adding even more.'

Accountant Kelly Anstee, 40, who lives in nearby Fen Ditton said she had just taken 26 minutes to drive her daughter Mia, 11, to Cherry Hinton to play netball.

She said: 'It is only a two or three mile journey, but it took for ever. It is not worth my while going home, because I would have to set off again ten minutes later to pick up my daughter.

'The traffic here is already a nightmare and I can only imagine it will get even worse with all this building work.

'Everyone wants to live here because it is really safe and a nice place – but there are too many people and too many developments.'

Learning support mentor Michelle Andrews, 40, added: 'We need more housing – but it impacts on everyone.

'I have lived here since I was five and in the last couple of years the new housing has become a nightmare. The traffic has become really dangerous.

'There are just too many of these developments. The new Springstead Village is on the edge of Teversham, and it's a shame because it is not really a village any more.'

Others who are more sympathetic to the building of houses include South Africa-born Johan Victor, 52, who has been living in the UK since 2020.

Mr Victor, a business development manager in Cambridge, said: 'The new houses are a good thing and they are a sign that the place is thriving and getting bigger.

'The homes seem to be of good quality. But you have to make sure the roads can handle the extra traffic because the area is already very busy.'

Security guard Ricky, 39, who was waiting to catch a bus at the stop outside Cherry Hinton's Nisa Local store, said: 'I don't drive so I am not bothered. People need to live somewhere and growth is needed to build them homes.'

Labour councillor Mark Ashton is also supportive of the new estate being built by Bellway and social housing builder Latimer which is part of the Clarion Housing Group.

He said the developers had been very 'co-operative' in funding traffic measures including two new junctions into the estate with one costing £3million.

Mr Ashton said the area had been in the local plan for housing for around 30 years and the development proposals had gone out to full public consultation.

He added: 'There will always be people who moan, but Bellway are doing their best to ensure facilities are being met.

'They are using two homes as a community centre and there is a playground. I also think there will be 1,500 trees planted.

'There will be around 40 per cent social homes. I think the houses look good. They have pitched roofs and are more attractive than the flat roof style houses elsewhere in Cambridge which look like prison blocks or Lego.'

A spokesperson for Bellway Latimer said: 'Springstead Village is a sustainable new neighbourhood delivering much-needed new homes, community facilities and public open space on the edge of Cambridge.

'The development's anticipated impact on traffic volumes was assessed as part of the planning application process and deemed to be acceptable by the local highways authority. The planning process included extensive consultation with members of the local community.

'As part of the construction work at the development, Bellway Latimer is carrying out a number of road improvements. 

'This has included junction improvements into Teversham village, new cycle lanes and improvements to existing cycling routes along with along with financial contributions to the local authority to undertake other off-site improvements.

'Footpaths, cycleways and bus routes are also being incorporated into the development. Bellway Latimer is also providing funding of more than £16 million towards local services and infrastructure through the planning agreement for Springstead Village.

'This includes more than £11 million for education and £1 million for bus services. Contributions are also being made towards pedestrian and cycle route improvements which will encourage the use of car-free travel.'