Plans for 15 holiday lodges on site of former illegal waste dumping ground approved
Plans for 15 holiday lodges have been approved to give a new lease of life to a ‘neglected’ site which was once a dumping ground for illegal waste.
Members of East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee have given the green light for the lodges to be built at Thorpe Farm, off Dalby Road in Skendleby, near Spilsby.
The change of use of the land will enable luxury holiday lodges to be developed at the site so that it can become a holiday destination.
Simon Hawkes, the applicant and owner of the site, explained that prior to him buying the land it had been targeted by people illegally dumping waste – a matter that was dealt with by the courts. He said he has spent a lot of money removing this from the site to make it suitable for development.
At a meeting on Thursday, July 2, Mr Hawkes said: “The property ceased to be a traditional farm many years ago.
“Large sheds were built – many without planning permission – and the site became associated with a series of unlawful activities, including underground counterfeit cigarette factories and a major cannabis operation.
“Many of the buried structures remain buried underneath the existing buildings today. After those activities ended, the site became an illegal dumping ground for plastic, asbestos and thousands of tonnes of combustible waste.
“Fires were a regular occurrence, requiring repeated attendance by the fire service. When we purchased the property, we inherited that legacy.
“At a considerable expense, we removed the waste and disposed of it at licensed facilities.”
Mr Hawkes also vowed to look after the site and improve it further.
He said: “This was once recognised as an outstanding conservation farm, achieving second place in the Lincolnshire Agricultural Show Conservation Competition in 1990.
“It supported all five native British owl species. Today, that richness has been lost.
“This application gives us the opportunity to reverse that decline through sustainable farm diversification.
“It is a chance to restore a neglected site, improve biodiversity and create something the local community can once again be proud of.”
Coun Neil Jones (Conservative – Sibsey and Stickney) backed the plans and said it would help to regenerate the area.
He added: “It’s something to be used and developed and we’re going to get visitors and employment there which can only help the economy of the area.”
He said the plans showed the development would be ‘discreet’ and that it would ‘fit in very well’ with the surrounding area.
The application has been approved subject to conditions.
SBR Foxhills Limited had been found to be running a waste site without a permit at Thorpe Farm in 2021, following an investigation by the Environment Agency.
Director Matthew Berry was handed a 36-week suspended prison sentence at Lincoln Crown Court on May 7 2025 after he pleaded guilty to the offence.
He was also ordered to pay almost £100,000 in fines, costs and confiscation orders.