November 6, 2019 4.59 pm This story is over 52 months old

Deferred Crowland 108-home development back up for approval

Councillors originally rejected it over concerns including affordable housing, parking and a nearby business
The applicant is looking to build 108-homes on the Crowland site.

A previously deferred 108-home plan in Crowland is again up for approval in South Holland District Council.

The application for Crease Drove, by Ashwod Homes, will include 27 homes classed as affordable, along with a number of one to four bed houses.

It was rejected in June after councillors raised concerns including how the affordable homes were distributed throughout the plan, the available car parking, the distance to a nearby commercial crane business, drainage and maintenance.

Sir John Hayes MP, along with 11 local residents, has also objected to the plans.

However, council officers will next week tell councillors amendments have only been made to parking arrangements and an updated noise assessment submitted.

The applicant has also defended several of the concerns, particularly the two blocks of affordable housing.

“Housing Associations prefer to take blocks of units as it assists them with maintenance of the properties and also leads to less complaints of antisocial behaviour being made from the Open Market Housing,” says Ashwood Homes submission.

How the housing could be laid out.

They say that creating a buffer to the crane business would remove 26 houses from the scheme and “make it unviable”.

They also question that if the council has safety fears for the crane business why it had not taken action against the company already.

Concluding their report, planning officers said: “The view remains that there are not sufficient reasons to merit refusing this application, and the recommendation therefore remains to grant planning permission.”

Their original recommendation said the proposal represents “an acceptable form of development.”

They said it will not have a material detrimental impact on the existing community or adjoining residents.

As part of the approval, the developer will be asked to contribute £71,280 for the expansion of Abbeyview Surgery and £583,527 towards education at South View Community Primary Schoola and The Deepings School.

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