Plans for a four-storey apartment complex in the centre of Spalding have been deferred amid concerns about parking, waste and amenities.
South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee deferred its decision on the dwellings aimed at the over 55s at its meeting on Tuesday (April 10).
A number of councillors said the 35-apartment complex was “overdevelopment” and were concerned that it only offered 15 parking spaces.
Coun Alcock said apartment living was “how you expect to live” in a city centre but in South Holland “the vast majority of over-55s have cars”.
Refuse management was also of concern. Coun Harry Drury suggested a private waste management firm would be a solution to black and green bags being on the street.
But the committee was worried the provision of large refuse bins would take away even more parking spaces.
The look of the building was also a concern for councillors.
Coun Michael Seymour said: “It’s currently a flat eyesore. Put that there and it’s going to be a bigger eyesore.”
Ahead of the meeting, Gavin Allmand, the former chairman of Spalding Town Retailers Association, slammed planning officers’ decision to recommend the building of flats as a wasted opportunity to boost the town centre.
But Coun Roger Gambba-Jones said the council has been “beaten to the punch.”
“We have not been proactive,” he said, adding “we’ve sat on our hands for 15 years” and that even if it doesn’t agree with the plans the council must only consider if the development is acceptable in planning terms.
Gavin Allmand has long suggested the disused buildings and car park around Drapers Place between Market Place and The Crescent be developed for retail.
He said: “I am disappointed, saddened and frustrated.
“Drapers Place is the only brownfield site within the boundary of the town centre of any size to accommodation a sizeable retail development.”
However Coun Peter Williams said he agrees but there must be demand.
“When anything comes empty it’s taken up by Eastern European shops.
“If they went half the town would be empty.”
