PLANNING THUMBS-UP FOR 96-HOME PROJECT ON OUTSKIRTS OF CLEETHORPES

Artist's impression of how the development could look as  'unkempt' arable land opposite the Tesco superstore makes way for  new homes

North East Lindsey Council planners dallied on making a decision on the project at Hewitt's Circus, New Waltham, so Mr Yeung of Liverpool-based YPG Developments Ltd asked the planning inspectorate to intervene.

After assessing the merits of the application and conducting a  visit  to the site - which he decribed as 'unkempt land' between the A1098 Hewitt's Avenue and the A1031 Humberston Road - independent planning inspector Darren Hendley gave the go-ahead for construction of 72 houses and 24 apartments.

Addressing misgivings about potential traffic snarl-ups, the inspector stated: "Improvements are proposed to both the Hewitt’s Avenue and Humberston Road (north) arm of the roundabout that are forecast to mitigate the impacts caused by traffic generation, including at peak times when the increases would be most marked. 

"In my view, these improvements would also benefit existing road users with the capacity that would be created, thereby having the potential to reduce queueing delays and the associated frustrations of drivers. 

"With the additional capacity that would be created at the roundabout, this would be unlikely to cause undue concerns arising from its use, in effect, as a U-turn, due to the absence of a right turn out of the access.  As a consequence, the proposal would not result in unsafe manoeuvres to the detriment of highway safety and amenity.

"The mitigation also includes improvements for pedestrians and cyclists in the vicinity of the site.  In particular, the proposed signalised crossing point on Humberston Road would improve the safety of users attempting to cross this road, and a footway would also be provided to a bus stop on Humberston Road (south).

"The mitigation would adequately address potential detrimental impacts on highway safety arising from the additional traffic generation.  Whilst these measures also formed mitigation under the extant permission, the evidence before me does not lead me to believe that the traffic generation from the additional dwellings would tip the balance of acceptability against the proposal as regards the impact on the highway network.

"In relation to the potential for the use of an alternative access, as I find the proposed access arrangement not to be unacceptable, I have not considered this matter further.  The LP policies that I have been referred to in respect of the housing allocation, in any event, do not require the proposal to be accessed in a different way from what is before me as it would deliver the appropriate highway infrastructure for its needs.

"I therefore conclude that the proposal would not have an unacceptable effect on highway safety and the free flow of traffic."

Mr Yeung's firm will be obliged to contribute £20,000 to highway improvements.

Mr Yeung - boss of YPG

In addition, there are requirements that  20 per cent of the new homes meet the so-called "affordable" provision and that "educational contributions" will  be made on the basis of £11,276.44 for every four qualifying houses for primary education and £16,991.48 for every five qualifying houses for secondary education - the monies to be spent, respectively, on schools within two and five miles of the site.

Disappointingly, Mr Hendley has not insisted on any initiatives to enhance wildlife, such as songbirds, maintaining that the habitat is of "low value" and that proposed planting of trees and shrubs will suffice.

YPG's track record has mostly been in seeing through to fruition regenerations schemes, including student accommodation, on Merseyside.

It is not known when work will start on the Cleethorpes project or whether YPG will seek involvement (or sale of the site) from another developer.