Less contributions from new estate

Plans for 650 homes in Holbeach have been passed again, this time with £720,000 less in contributions.

The proposed homes between the A17 and A151 were previously approved at outline stage in 2016, following an application by RH and AM Goodley.

The development would have provided 33.3 per cent affordable homes and £5,006,751 towards education, health and roads.

The new joint application with Lincolnshire County Council has just 20 per cent affordable homes, five per cent below normal planning limits (around 130) and contributes £4,286,511 which is £720,240 less than originally asked for.

The contributions include highways works at Peppermint junction.

Coun Bryan Alcock, said: “It’s interesting they’re not too keen on paying themselves back over Peppermint Junction. I’d like them to pay it back into the road system and probably manage some potholes.

“Seems to me they could well use that money to fill a few holes up.”

For the first 300 homes built, only seven per cent (23) will be affordable.

That led to concern from some councillors.

Coun Rob Gibson said: “If a developer came up and said they wanted a development of this size and asked for seven per cent affordable I’m guessing the answer would be no.

“To see this in phases feels as if we’re being hoodwinked. It feels like everything is weighted in one direction and its not ours.

“The people of Holbeach have an awful lot of building going on and they don’t seem to be getting a lot out of it.”

Councillors though voted through the application.

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones said: “These urban extensions are always a challenge as what you set out to achieve at the start is seldom what you deliver at the end, particularly in the times we live in.

“It’s more peculiar in this situation that it’s the land owner that’s proposed taking money off themselves.

“They do wish to pay for affordable housing at this stage, but because of the length of delivery time the possibility of all of that must be considered to be on a knife edge.

“We can only hope the economy picks up and it is delivered.”