The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Plans for an already started housing development will need to go back to the drawing board after they were turned down last week.
Allison Homes was asked to stop building north of Roman Road by South Holland District Council due to conditions having not been agreed.
Numerous objections had been submitted over the proposal for 86 homes passed in 2021.
They include concerns over the height of the site which, ward Coun Anthony Casson claimed, was raised 5ft 6ins above neighbouring ground and drainage.
Among those objecting were Moulton Parish Council a spokesman for whom said in submission to the council: “Even its amendments are trying to paper over a bodge job caused by a planning department that does not have standard procedures that cover new estates in the same road.
“I hope these new houses are going to be supplied with a boat as all roads will be under five feet of water but at least these houses will be dry.”
South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee unanimously voted to go against officer’s recommendation and refused the compliances on the basis of its height and proximity to existing developments.
Coun Roger Gambba-Jones branded the plans “a mens” highlighting that the responsibility of one particular drain would fall on one homeowner.
“It’s a mess for the trick they’re playing and the stunt they’re playing on our district,” he said. “We have a responsibility as a committee. It’s not up to us to redesign it; it’s up to us to say no.
“There’s loads of planning reasons to say no.
“The design jars with us and is out of keeping with our district.
“We don’t raise places around here.
“It’s incongruous and we don’t want to have an impact on the rest
“If the inspector comes along and says you’re wrong then so be it.”
He also accused Lincolnshire County Council’s Highways department of “not doing its job” after its officers raised no objections.
“They’ve looked at it strictly through technical terms,” he said.
Speaking to the meeting Ian Riley of Allison Homes said the levels were in the application when SHDC passed it in 2021.
“There was a clear appreciation from the council of what the build would be.
“The levels will be in line with what was originally approved and the finished levels will not have an unacceptable impact.
“It’s not unusual or outside of planning policy to commence initial work on site prior to conditions, however we acknowledge that we have taken the works beyond what would be considered normal practice.
“We apologise for this outcome.”
