October 9, 2019 3.33 pm This story is over 67 months old

Air quality concerns for Colsterworth development dispelled

A parish councillor said nitrogen dioxide levels were above European Standards – but council officers disagree
The site would be entered from an existing roundabout.

A warning over air quality, which saw a 70-home development on he A1 between Grantham and Stamford shelved last month, has been disproved by South Kesteven District Council officers.

Colsterworth Parish Councillor Mark Ramage told the authority’s planning committee last month that the site of the outline proposals, submitted by Quality Solicitor on behalf of the estate of the late Susan Goffin, had a level of nitrogen dioxide 40% above European standards.

Mr Ramage said Defra figures placed the level at 60 micrograms, whereas the recommended figure was 40.

His comments caused concerns among councillors who asked for the plans, which would be accessed from the roundabout on Bourne Road, to be deferred.

Officers will tell councillors next week that the figures they have from Defra place the level at between 10-20micrograms, 20micrograms below the European Standard.

An indicative plan for how the site, near to the A1, could be laid out.

“The DEFRA data demonstrates that the site is not in an area where pollutants exceed or at risk of exceeding the European and UK standards,” the officers report says.

“In fact, the annual mean levels are less than half the maximum permitted level.

“The Council’s Environmental Protection Team have confirmed that this is case and that the figures quoted by Colsterworth Parish Council are incorrect.

“Furthermore, where the council has carried out monitoring at sites elsewhere within the district along the A1 corridor which have characteristics that mean they are more likely to have higher levels, the annual mean levels there have consistently been well below the European and UK standard.”

The officers say tree planting already proposed within the site and on a planned acoustic bund will also help.

They have also responded to noise concerns and suggested changes to conditions requiring better design to be submitted at reserve stage.

They will again recommend approval on Wednesday.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from coverage every week, as well as insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.