Homes refused over sustainability

Two separate applications for family homes have been refused because they’re deemed to be in open countryside, despite some support for both.

One family wanted to build a four-bed house at an ‘untidy’ haulage yard where a memorial to their daughter had been erected.
Another was looking to build an eco-home just outside Holbeach, but it too was refused by South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee for being in ‘unsustainable’ locations despite it being 150 metres from where a new housing estate will be built.
The Moulton Chapel application came from Mr Cook who owns the haulage yard adjacent to Miki-Lea Manor on Oxcroft Bank.
In a written statement to the committee he vowed building the home would mean a relocation for the haulage yard which been running for 12 years and is visited 30 times a day by lorries.
“We totally understand local residents would prefer the operation located to a more suitable site to prevent lorries damaging the soft verges and prevent further conflict from other road users,” he said.
The meeting was told the family went daily to visit the memorial to their daughter who died in a car accident a few years ago.
Several councillors agreed with the applicant.
Coun Bryan Alcock said: “This is a site that’s never going back to agriculture. The thought of a haulage business in that location I find amazing. To move it would definitely be of benefit to anyone subjected to that lot going by day and night. I think the benefits would outweigh any harm.”
Planning chairman James Avery though said: “I sympathise greatly and applaud what they’re trying to do and they’re being honest in what they’re trying to do, but it would drive an enormous coach and horses through our policy of unsustainable locations. If it was approved it would weaken our case for many applications in the future.”
Planning policy does allow buildings in open countryside if the buildings are ‘truly innovative and exceptional’ which is what Mr R Nazan, of Holbeach, argued was the case for his eco-land off Cranmore Lane on a former caravan site.
Planning officers argued they weren’t, something architecture student Sophie Hutchinson told the committee was ‘misguided and an insult to the architect’.
“I’d argue it’s a good use of poor quality land that promotes sustainability and raises the standards of design in the area and inspires more self builders,” she said. “Saying it’s not a high enough standard of architecture when 900 homes of low value and quality have been approved 160 metres east of the site is a tad ridiculous.”
Coun Avery though said: “When talking about sustainability we’re talking about them going to Holbeach centre, not to the nearest development.”