September 25, 2018 8.28 am This story is over 67 months old

3,200 homes Western Growth Corridor plans ‘in striking distance’

Next steps towards the Western Growth Corridor housing development

The new Masterplan for the Lincoln Western Growth Corridor development project.

Council leaders have said they are ‘within striking distance’ of putting forward planning applications for the Western Growth Corridor following the latest developments.

The City of Lincoln Council’s executive was told on Monday how £1.88 million funding for a new £2.2 million roundabout had been offered by Homes England.

The project will see the replacement of existing traffic lights at the junction of Birchwood Avenue and Skellingthorpe Road, in the south of the city.

It was accepted by council officers however that although the new infrastructure will provide ‘some benefit’ to the town, it would not be a ‘complete solution’ until other junction improvements were approved.

Plans for the plot of land include up to 3,200 homes, a hotel, leisure complex and Lincoln City football stadium.

During the meeting, council leader Ric Metcalfe said there were  ‘a lot of reasons to be cheerful’ about the latest news but acknowledges’ there are some challenges to deal with’.

He added, however: “We’re within striking distance of a planning application within the new year.”

Councillor Neil Murray said the news was ‘very welcome’.

“It’s good news for people looking for a better job or a house in Lincoln. This is what it’s all about. Delivering things better.”

Councillors also heard how a new independent consultant had been hired to do a review of the plans in order to give the council more confidence going forward.

The build is the first step in the 3,200 homes development to be created as part of the growth corridor.

Plans, adopted in 2017, also include a hotel, leisure complex and Lincoln City football stadium.

A total of 20 per cent of the new homes will be affordable, and the move will create 20 hectares of commercial/employment space, a new Leisure Village, green space, flood mitigation improvements and a range of improvements to roads, cycle paths and pedestrian routes.

The Western Growth Corridor between Boultham and Birchwood is a 320-hectare site — around 10% of Lincoln’s size.

It follows the news that Lincoln-based construction company Lindum Group purchased land from the Scarborough family leaving them and the council as the only two to own ground within the planned space.

Work to understand, model and analyse the highways/transport issues in the area, including further additional traffic modelling, is ongoing and will inform the final proposals.

Consultation events are proposed in November 2018.

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