Plans to build 63 homes on agricultural land at the edge of Pinchbeck have been given the go-ahead.
South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday ratified Mr J Kirk’s plan to build south of Green Lane and east of Bacons Lane just outside the stated boundaries for Pinchbeck.
A number of bungalows are part of the development while there will be 18 affordable homes.
Planning officer Polly Harris-Gorf, said that though the development is outside the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan and could be listed as an exception to the council’s spatial and distribution of housing policies “when considered in conjunction with the wider benefits to be gained”.
She said: “Officers considered the development of this greenfield site would result in the change of the character of this area however there are not considered to be any significant or demonstrably adverse impacts in respect that would warrant refusal on those grounds, particular if we’re looking at the coalescence of Pinchbeck and Spalding.”
The development is also being classed as an “exception” by officers due to it being on land deemed a risk for flooding.
Despite some objections from the public, Pinchbeck Parish Council supported the application on the condition it receives £15,000 towards a new cemetery for the village.
A contribution of £41,580 would also go towards health provision though the lack of money towards education was described as “surprise and a missed opportunity” by the committee’s chair Coun Roger Gambba-Jones.
Before it was passed with 12 for one against and two abstentions, Coun Avery, who is also a member of Pinchbeck Parish Council, backed the development.
He said: “There’s outline application for 40 and this is a full application for 63 so we’re talking 23 more properties.
“Flood risk, well, we’re in South Holland and the clue is in the name. I don’t see why this should be any different to any other part of the district, so I’m comfortable with that.
“It’s a kind of a land-fill site as we’ve seen from developers before but I would suggest buyer beware and it’s not necessarily a reason to refuse.”
He continued: “Yes, we (Pinchbeck Parish Council) are in the process of developing a new cemetery as we’re running out of space so this will make a very good contribution to that development.”
