New homes at the Quadrant given the go-ahead

Have your say on the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan at drop- in sessions across South Holland and Boston between July 18 and August 8.

Councillors on the planning committee approved recommendations to delegate approval to the authority’s development control manager after hearing that the development was considered by officers to be ‘totally acceptable’, with matters relating to conditions on the original application ‘capable of being resolved satisfactorily’.

The Quadrant includes a new community football stadium for Boston United, 500 houses, plus businesses and infrastructure.

A report to the committee stated: “The Quadrant scheme is the single largest development that the Borough has seen for many years and significantly it has commenced.

“The principle of this development has been established and the progress of works on site to date confirms that the developer is approaching the ability to be able to commit to the commencement of the first two phases of houses, including a significant number of affordable homes.

“It is consistent with the White Paper that the Borough should support the delivery of homes and the signal that the works gives to residents, visitors, the development industry and potential investors cannot be underestimated.”

“The layout and detailed form of the first two phases of houses is considered to be totally acceptable and those other matters relating to condition discharges should be capable of being resolved satisfactorily.”

The decision means the development control manager will continue to negotiate with Chestnut Homes on the committee’s behalf and then be able to approve the building of the houses once the developer proves it has dealt with concerns from authorities such as the Environment Agency over mitigating flood risk.

The recommendations also include the condition that a play area needs to be in place before the occupation of the 50th house.

Chestnut Homes have been given several conditions as part of their original application, including that the stadium contract cannot begin until the developer has received £7.6 million Community Stadium Funding, occupied 100 houses and 50 per cent of the commercial floor space.

Chestnut Homes did not wish to comment on this decision.