The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Over 100 homes are to be built close to a crane factory in Crowland.
Last week South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee voted to give Ashwood Homes full planning permission for 108 homes off Crease Road by just one vote.
The application had been deferred from a previous committee meeting where a new noise assessment was requested.
Objectors claimed the “updated” noise assessment made by professional company Blue Tree Acoustics was the same as a 2018 assessment with different dates on it.
Crowland councillor Jim Astill told the meeting: “There is no guidance about operating cranes right next to houses because this doesn’t really happen in practice.
“We have an updated sound assessment dated September 2019. If you study it, it is based on a report made in June 2018.
“Both have the same data, times and comments. In 2018 reports tests were taken April 17/18 and in the 2019 report it says it was May 17/18.
“That could be an admin error or the report has been adjusted to make it look different when in fact everything else is exactly the same.”
He went on to say: “The updated sound assessment is flawed. Clearly it’s a duplicate from a previous application and whether it’s been done to mis-lead us or not, it’s dated differently.
“An updated assessment was a condition of the outline permission and I do not believe this is appropriate for this application.”
Concerns were also expressed over confusion as to whether a nearby dyke would be gated and over potential security issues for other nearby homes.
Coun Bryan Alcock added: “Developing houses next to an industry site and potentially jeopardising businesses does seem to be a nonsense, but we know the inspector decided we could build there so we’re between a rock and a hard place.”
Coun Andrew Tennant commented: “Would we consider to build (an industrial unit like the crane company) so close to a residential development?
“I would say, no, that’s destroying the amenity of my house.”
Coun Harry Drury spoke in favour of the development as it was passed by eight votes to seven and said he believed that as a a professional company had come back with a noise study, the committee wouldn’t be able to rule against it.
“Issues with parking have been addressed and it’s good to see we’ve contributions to the NHS and local primary schools which is staying within Crowland,” he continued.
“I understand the objections members of the public have raised but there’s no planning policy reasons that we can refuse this application.”
Speaking on behalf of Ashwood, who claimed that creating more of a gap to the houses would make the development “unviable”, Tim Waller, said: “The issue of noise can’t be considered a reason for refusal.
“The outdated noise survey takes account of the expansion of the Crowland Cranes site and the proposed mitigation matters are acceptable.
“The council have already granted planning permission for the site.
“It’s important the council should support the few house-builders who are consistently delivering new homes in the district.”
