Objections over plans for 45-home estate in Weston

Plans for a 45-home development in Weston have come up against strong opposition from villagers.

Bourne-based Larkfleet Homes has applied to South Holland District Council to build 45 homes, along with associated garages, at Small Drove.

The development will consist of 30 open market homes, 11 social rented homes and four intermediate homes (housing that falls between open market and social homes). There will also be parking for 128 cars.

The plans were unveiled at a public meeting in Weston in the summer and Larkfleet has offered to set up a £15,000 community fund for village projects.

Weston Parish Council has objected strongly to the application on a number of grounds:

the site is greenfield and inappropriate for development;

there is no footway along that stretch of road and no continuous footway along the rest of Small Drove. The inclusion of a small section of footway within the development will not significantly decrease the risks to pedestrians using Small Drove especially as traffic flows would be increased;

Small Drove is a narrow, single track lane and is totally unsuitable for the increased amount of traffic flow that would result from the development. The minor highway alterations proposed would in no way ameliorate the situation;

there has been a long history of sewage problems in the area and the pumping station struggles to cope;

45 dwellings would constitute gross over development for such a small site and the development would be incongruous with the neighbourhood;

the local infrastructure such as primary and secondary schools, as well as the doctor’s surgery, is ill equipped to cope with the additional population associated with 45 dwellings.

Ward councillor Andrew Woolf requested that the plan is considered at a planning committee meeting, saying: “This is a substantial development for Weston and as such has raised many comments from local residents.”

Lincolnshire County Council has asked that Larkfleet Homes agree to pay £137,367 in S106 money towards education provision as part of the application.

A decision on the application is due to be made by January 20.