Plans for up to five homes in village given green light despite concerns about impact on character of area

Members of South Kesteven District Council’s (SKDC) planning committee approved plans for up to five homes to be built in Claypole Road, Stubton, near Newark, with all matters reserved except for access.

At a meeting on Thursday, May 14, Coun Penny Milnes (Independent – Loveden Heath) called for the applicant to take into account her concerns about the possible impact to the character of the area.

She said: “All taken into account, while there is no objection to some development on this site, there are concerns about the indicative plan, the quantum of housing and the layout, involving elements of backland built-form (the development of new buildings on land located behind existing, established properties), extending extending visually into the open countryside aspect, utilising the cul-de-sac and being out of character to the setting with the existing form consisting of frontage housing in larger plots.”

Coun Milnes requested that her concerns were taken into account in a reserved matters application and suggested amendments to the landscaping and the front of the properties to make them more in keeping with the character of the area.

Jackie Britten-Crooks, clerk of Stubton Parish Council, had concerns about the risk of flooding.

She said: “The parish council isn’t totally against this development, however we have concerns over the quantum and layout.

“As Penny (Milnes) has already said, the whole of Claypole Road is a linear style built form.

“There is no backland development or cul-de-sacs along the entire stretch of Claypole Road and we feel that the introduction of five on the edge of the village goes against the built form of the village and general sort of design principles where you expect the outskirts of the village to taper and development to become less dense – that the introduction of five large dwellings will just look out of place.

“We’ve also got concerns over the drainage of the area. We do get localised flooding on the road there and we don’t have any mains drainage in that part of the village.”

But Coun Paul Fellows (Independent – Bourne Austerby) was convinced that the concerns could be dealt with in another application.

He said: “What we’re looking for is outline permission and I can’t see any reason why that can’t be granted.

“The parish council themselves said they are not opposed to development on that site, as did Coun Milnes when she was speaking previously to the parish council.

“I think the issues we are raising can all be dealt with in reserve matters.”

Councillors were told that the layout of the proposed development would be considered in a reserved matters application which would be assessed by SKDC’s planning committee at a later date.

Under the initial plans, three homes would be built from the existing access point to the site, while two other homes would be built from a new access point off Claypole Road.

The application was approved subject to conditions.