New GP surgery and 600 homes in East Lindsey town

Plans to build 600 new homes and a medical centre in Spilsby have been approved.

East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee gave the green light to Gin Property’s outline proposals for Halton and Ashby Roads on Thursday.

The outline application said the site includes a new “Chapter Village” of around 200 homes for over 55s, 25 homes classed as “affordable”, rent to buy properties and living accommodation for older people alongside 200 open market houses.

The surgery already has permission to go ahead.

Michael Braithwaite, agent to the applicant, said: “The delivery of the centre is dependent on the wider development.”

He added: “The development will meet a real and particular need for new homes in East Lindsey together with providing a much needed new medical centre.”

He told councillors a 1.5 hectare open space area would improve health and wellbeing for residents, along with cycle lane provision. The focus, he said, was on enhancing the town centre rather than providing shops on site.

Spilsby Town Council and Hundleby Parish Council have supported the proposals for encouraging new infrastructure and amenities as well as promoting growth and business investment. However, they have raised some concerns.

Fenside Parish Council, along with a number residents, objected due to concerns over the size of the development, the impact on local roads, schools and leisure facilities and increases in drainage and pollution issues.

Independent Councillor Edward Mossop praised the plans for having “more green on the land than has ever been seen on an application like this” but, along with other members, queried the green infrastructure of the development.

Mr Braithwaite said key features included attenuation ponds, protection for key areas of habitat around lakes within the development, and connections to Spilsby. He said reserved matters applications would take account of national policies at the time they are submitted.

Councillor Helen Matthews, however, said: “I’m just a bit concerned because it looks like we’re bolting on 600 [homes] to a town that’s poorly served for leisure facilities.

“I know there’s talk about this enhancing the town centre but there’s nothing here showing me how it will [do that] other than bringing lots of people in.”

She added: “There’s a chance here for a new development to be exemplar around green issues.”

Councillor Swanson said he felt the proposal had little direction and that its submission was “premature”.

“There’s no guarantee that putting 600 of houses on this piece of land will actually bring Spilsby back to life,” he said.

Councillor Danny McNally, however, said it was “quite fine really”.

“Asking for 600 houses like this is far, far better than the bolt-ons we have seen in other towns,” he said.

“We’re getting new roads, water upgrades – there’s loads of new stuff.”

Councillors approved the plans, adding on conditions to push for green solutions such as electric vehicle charging and solar panels, as well as asking for contributions to focus on education, sports provision and social housing.