It’s all systems go for new £8.25m Horncastle hub - but not everyone is happy

The News first revealed details of the ambitious project a number of weeks ago and then featured the first architect’s drawings of the combined district council headquarters/college last month.

The official planning documents have now appeared on ELDC’s website.

A final decision could be made in July, with work expected to start in September.

Although backed by many people - and described as a major boost for Horncastle’s economy - the state-of-the-art project has attracted some criticism.

ELDC leader Coun Craig Leyland has this week hit back at comments by three of Louth’s district councillors - Andrew Leonard, George Horton and Jill Makinson-Sanders.

In a statement released to the News’ sister paper the Louth Leader, the trio said: “We are appalled that this (project) has continued to be pushed through and feel it is totally insensitive towards local residents.

“This is spearheaded by council leader Coun Craig Leyland and chief executive Rob Barlow who seem to be disregarding the economic chaos in the local community and beyond.

“While we have council staff who are swamped with applications for government grants, housing benefit etc, with colleagues from other departments being drafted in to help these hard-pressed sections, yet we still have staff working on the Horncastle project.”

Coun Leyland retorted: “We have always been clear that this important development remains on track – it’ll be cost neutral and bring much needed educational provision to our district, which will benefit many people.

“Submitting the planning application and working up this project is in no way impacting our ability to support the Lincolnshire response to Covid-19.

“The statement (above) shows a complete lack of understanding about the Government’s encouragement for developments to progress and feels to me more about political point scoring and securing headlines than anything else.

“Councillor Leonard’s group leader, Councillor Makinson-Sanders, continues to be part of the project team in helping us to shape the Public Sector Hub.

“Councillors Leonard, Horton and Makinson-Sanders should look forward to future planning applications for the Colonnade at Sutton on Sea; a new leisure centre for Mablethorpe and a number of other major projects in the pipeline to boost the economy post Covid-19.”

The application still needs full permission before it can go ahead.

As things stand, it will be a planning officer at ELDC who makes the decision, although the application could still be ‘called in’ - meaning it would go before ELDC’s planning committee.

• Public comments are allowed on ELDC’s planning portal.