A proposal for a 78-home development on Grade One agricultural land seeks to exploit a “loophole” in legislation, it has been said.
Woodgate Farms Ltd has submitted the outline proposal to South Holland District Council for a field south of Roman Road in Moulton Chapel, a village of around 900 residents.
The field is behind Moulton Chapel Motors, which would “relocate” as part of the plan to provide access to the new homes.
The application states the current lack of a complete Local Plan – a local government produced document to guide development – makes it harder to refuse.
Coun Eddy Poll, ward member for Moulton Chapel on Moulton Parish Council, said: “You can’t blame people for taking advantage of loopholes in the system.
“What we need is well planned, well designed cohesive development that helps the village maintain its character not a strip of housing behind an existing strip of housing.
“But whilst it is not in the best location, bearing in mind the requirements for new housing, we probably all have to take a bit of pain.”
The application states: “The proposal is neither for rural exceptions affordable housing, nor essential to meet the needs of agricultural workers, the application would not normally be supported.”
But it adds: “As there is not a five-year supply of deliverable housing land, for the proposal to be resisted it would need to be demonstrated that the effects of granting permission for the proposed scheme significantly outweigh the benefits. It cannot be reasoned that that housing need will be addressed in any emerging local plan (it is understood the next draft of the South East Lincolnshire Plan is unlikely to materialise until April 2017).”
The application notes concerns may be raised around the use of high-quality agricultural land but says to deliver the required housing it is inevitable some high-grade agricultural land will be lost.
It also notes possible resistance due to perceived strain on existing infrastructure but says the scheme would add further support for local shops, pubs, churches and primary school and reduce risk of decline or closure.
