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Greater Lincolnshire’s councils are ahead of the game when it comes to delivering housing according to the latest data from government.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ annual Housing Delivery Test shows that the seven district councils, along with North and North East Lincolnshire Council, have built 13,304 homes – 49.08% higher than the 8,924 they were estimated to require between 2018 and 2021.

The City of Lincoln, North Kesteven and West Lindsey District Councils have a joint plan have delivered 4,925 homes compared to the 2,810 they required. A rise of 75%.

Meanwhile the most advanced authority was South Holland District Council which has delivered 76% more homes than it required.

South Kesteven, despite being the lowest of the Greater Lincolnshire authorities still managed to beat its target by 10%, building 1,851 homes against a requirement of 1,678.

North East Lincolnshire built 61% extra houses, while North Lincolnshire built 13% more than they needed.

The latest data showing the Housing Delivery Test data.

Elsewhere in the country, 51 (16%) of the 320 local planning authorities tracked by the government face sanctions after failing to deliver at least 75% of the homes needed in their area over the past three years.

The Housing Delivery Test was introduced in 2018 in order to track whether councils were meeting local housing needs and help hit a target of 300,000 new homes by the mid-2020s.

It uses local housing need, along with projected average annual household growth, adjustments for affordability and local plans to formulate the required number of homes.

Those that do not meet the target can be forced into a “presumption in favour of sustainable development” position which enables developments to be approved unless adverse impacts “significantly and demonstrably” outweigh the benefits.

Following a burglary earlier this month, we are releasing pictures of the items taken in the hope it might assist with our investigation and ultimately lead us to the offenders. 

Equipment including tools, tool boxes and diagnostic equipment was taken from the premises on Grantham Road, Waddington. We believe a white Ford Transit or Iveco ‘Luton’ style van was used as transport by the offender/s who broke in at the rear of the property on the 2 January at around 7 pm. 

We would like to hear from anyone who has any information about the burglary, or anyone who may have seen the equipment for sale. 

Please contact us in one of the following ways: 

• Call 101 with incident reference number 156 of 3 January. 
• Email [email protected] with the reference number in the subject heading. 
• Call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

If you’ve been the victim of crime, support is available, whether you have reported the crime to the police or not. Victim Lincs provide free, confidential advice and guidance, as well as access to specialist emotional support services. Visit victimlincs.co.uk or call 01522 947510 Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm. 

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Burglary 1

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Reference: Incident 156 of 3 January

A suspected drug trafficker named as one of the UK’s most wanted has been arrested in Spain.

Joshua Hendry, 30, was arrested in San Pedro de Alcantára, Marbella by the Spanish National Police’s fugitives unit on Thursday evening (January 20), a day after featuring in a new Most Wanted appeal by the National Crime Agency.

He was arrested after an off-duty police officer recognised him from the publicity.

Hendry, formerly of Walton, Liverpool, was wanted by Humberside Police. He is alleged to have trafficked heroin and cocaine from Liverpool to Grimsby for onward distribution.

The National Crime Agency said Hendry has been taken into custody and will appear in court soon as part of extradition proceedings.

Hendry and 11 other fugitives were revealed on Wednesday as the National Crime Agency launched its new most wanted campaign, in conjunction with independent charity Crimestoppers, Spanish law enforcement and UK policing.

Chief Inspector Rhodri Troake of Humberside Police said: “We’d like to thank the National Crime Agency for their assistance in locating and arresting Hendry as a part of an efficient and fast-moving operation.

“Hendry is alleged to have trafficked heroin and crack cocaine from Liverpool to Grimsby for onward distribution within our local communities.

“This type of criminality can cause significant disruption to our local communities and we will continue to do everything we can to continue to bring those responsible to justice.”

Tom Dowdall, NCA deputy director of international, said: “This is a rapid result and it’s testimony to the power these appeals can have as well as the NCA’s international reach.

“Whether it’s using tip-offs from the public, sharing intelligence or deploying specialist capabilities, UK law enforcement and our Spanish partners are working as one to trace and arrest the other 11 fugitives.

“Those men will know now that we’re after them. They can live their lives anxiously looking over their shoulders and wondering if today’s the day they get caught or they can do the right thing and hand themselves in.”