Proposed layout of the development
COUNCILLORS today voted unanimously to refuse a proposal for 17 new homes to be built on agricultural land off Grimsby Road in Waltham.
Members of North East Lincolnshire Council's planning committee shared the views of officers who had recommended refusal.
A key objection was that development of the site might erode the village identity of Waltham by allowing urban spread from Grimsby.
Cllr Bill Parkinson expressed partial regret about the refusal decision, noting that the landscaping scheme, including tree-planting, seemed attractive.
He also observed that houses and bungalows constructed by smaller housebuilders tended to have closer attention to detail than those built by their larger counterparts which were often "considerably inferior".
The committee noted that Waltham Parish Council had opposed the application.
Clerk Tanya Kuzemczak wrote: "This application represents an erosion into the identified strategic gap between Waltham and Grimsby.
"This land is not identified in the adopted Local Plan or within the Waltham Parish Community Led Plan as an area suitable for development.
"The parish council feels that these additional 17 homes will represent an over-intensification of the infrastructure of the village."
Planning meeting chairman Cllr Stephen Harness and colleague Tim Mickleburgh both commented on the large amount of lobbying from the applicant prior to the meeting.
"Lobbying is part of the democratic process, but planning decisions have to be made on the basis of impartiality," commented the former.
It is not known if the applicants, Idyllic Estates Ltd of East Ravendale Farm, will lodge an appeal.
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