57 homes in Holbeach approved despite fears
his is the second time that this application had been before the council's planning committee
Plans for 57 homes in Holbeach have been approved despite fears the development could lead to schools and health services being overrun.
Builder D Brown applied to South Holland District Council (SHDC) to build 57 affordable homes on agricultural land off Wignals Gate in Holbeach.
This is the second time that this application had been before SHDC’s planning committee – having been deferred at a meeting in June following concerns about the layout and high density of housing. This time it was passed – but not after a number of issues were aired.
The proposal is for 55 two storey homes and two single storey bungalows with associated access and open space on a 1.65 hectare site which is currently farmland.
The developers had provided some additional information about the design in a bid to address the concerns raised at the last meeting.
They will not be paying out ‘section 106’ payments towards improvements in public services because of viability concerns.
Despite some members still having concerns about the layout, design and lack of contributions to the area, councillors ultimately voted to approve the application.
At an SHDC planning committee meeting on Wednesday, September 23, Coun Henry Bingham (Conservative – Donington, Quadring and Gosberton) said: “People need to live in every type of housing. We have a severe lack of affordable housing in the district.”
SHDC planning officers had deemed the ‘principle of development’ to be acceptable and said there was a ‘clear’ evidence of the need for affordable housing in Holbeach.
But Coun Andrew Woolf (Conservative – Moulton, Weston and Cowbit) said he had “grave concerns” about the lack of developer contributions to the area.
He said: “I thought I saw a note in there saying the schools from 2029/30 will be just about full, so we’re already looking at something that’s not too far down the road and the children won’t have anyway to go – or they will have somewhere to go, but they’re going to have to travel a long way to do it.”
Coun Paul Barnes (Independent – Fleet) said the plan was out of character with the area.
He added: “I understand about having affordable houses. Personally I’m not sure that it integrates into the neighbourhood by having a full estate of affordable houses in one area.”
Coun Barnes was also concerned by the lack of developer contributions.
He said: “We just haven’t got the medical facilities and the educational facilities in that area to cope with more development at the minute.”
Coun Bryan Alcock (Independent – Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas) said: “It’s out of character and we shouldn’t be undertaking development that adversely affects the neighbours.
“We should be sympathetic to neighbours that have got every right to enjoy the environment that they’ve enjoyed for a number of years.”