47 homes approved despite concerns about historic nature of site
Plans for 47 homes have been given the green light despite a string of concerns about the suitability of the site.
Members of East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee granted outline planning permission for the homes to be built on land at Fanthorpe Lane in Louth.
The site is farmland and borders onto the existing Westfield Park housing development to the south. It also sits north of the Louth Bypass and is bordered to the east by existing housing off Grimsby Road.
At a meeting on Thursday, July 2, Coun David Moore, who sits on Louth Town Council, spoke against the application.
He said: “Louth Town Council feels that the determination of the access is key. Fanthorpe Lane is unadopted and is maintained by its residents.
“It should not be used as an access for this development. Fanthorpe Lane is one of the last remaining grassline roads within the town boundary.
“It is of historical significance and it was the original northern entry point to Louth, prior to the construction of the A16 road.
“Its aesthetic is likely to be damaged with an increase in traffic flow or alteration.”
Ward councillor David Hall (Labour – Louth North Holme) said he was concerned that the proposed development could put additional strain on water pressure in the area.
He said: “The water flooding in this area is kind of extreme and also the water pressure for the existing residents on Fanthorpe Lane is already at a very reduced amount.
“Putting an additional 47 houses on this one is going to make the water pressure absolutely untenable in that area.”
Coun Hall also said there wasn’t sufficient infrastructure in the area to accommodate any more housing.
He added: “The infrastructure of Louth can’t cope with this many houses on this particular site. It’s already struggling as it is.”
But Coun Neil Jones (Conservative – Sibsey and Stickney) said he didn’t believe there were any material planning reasons to refuse the application and said that issues relating to flood risk and access could be dealt with at a later stage.
He added: “I’m struggling to find really any planning conditions that we could refuse this application. I think it’s a very thorough report from Lindsey (Stuart) and the viability’s been expressed.
“This access is going to be dealt with at a later date and I recommend that we approve the application as per the officer’s recommendation and also to be involved with the future matters regarding the bins, access and the flood risk which has been outlined on this schedule.”
The application has been approved subject to conditions.