The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A former motel and a farm could be turned into 26 homes off Cowbit Road in Spalding.
An application for outline permission has been submitted to demolish Locksmill Farm and the old Travel Stop Motel, which had previously been known as The Stables Motel, and replace them with the new development.
Permission is being sought to build 14 two-bedroom, five three-bedroom and seven four-bedroom homes on the site.
The application has been submitted by The Trustees of the Estate of Horace Andrew deceased.
Supporting documents for the application state that the farm was acquired by the Andrew family in the early 1930s and its house, Southfields, was occupied by Horace Andrew until his death in September 2016.
Holbeach St Johns-based Andrew M Wright Ltd Chartered Accountants say in the submission of the outline applications: “The Travel Stop Motel is no longer economically viable as a hotel and despite attempts at selling the property, received no interest from prospective purchasers.
“The Locksmill Farm smallholding is not large enough to be economically viable for modern farming methods or machinery and is also surrounded with built development on all sides inhibiting connection to agricultural land.
“Furthermore, it is considered that an industrial or commercial use is inappropriate given the proximity of existing housing.
“The site has attracted vandalism and the dumping of rubbish and it is feared by the owners that other types of anti-social behaviour will follow.
“It is, therefore, considered that the two combined sites offer a more positive proposition as a single residential development than either site on its own.
“This can provide a more cohesive development and provide a much improved frontage to Cowbit Road and the River Welland.”
