BLACK EYE FOR COUNCIL AND ENGIE AS LEAFY HUMBERSTON SITE IS SAVED FROM DEVELOPMENT

A longstanding hedgerow and mature trees are features of the site boundary

AN idyllic rural corner of  Humberston has today unexpectedly been spared development from development - at least for the time being.

Despite huge opposition from scores of nearby residents, North East Lincolnshire Council and private-sector partner Engie wanted to build 14 homes on the hedgerow-lined meadow off South View, which is itself off North Sea Lane.

But at this morning's meeting of the planning committee, the recommendation of Engie's officers that  the application should be approved was rejected by seven votes to one.

And it emerged later that the councillor who had come down in favour of the project had cast his vote in error - he, too, was opposed.

The reason given for planning refusal was that the access to the site was too restricted, but planning chief Martin Dixon insisted it was adequate.

Cllr David Hasthorpe maintained the application should be refused on "moral if not legal" grounds.

However, a note of caution was sounded by Cllr Bill Parkinson who noted there were no valid grounds for refusal and that, if the matter went to appeal, it would "sail through". 

On a more controversial note, Cllr Parkinson said that retaining the site as an open space for dog-owners would result in fewer animals "messing the streets".

It seems the committee was also swayed by a letter from Humberston Parish Council in which clerk, Kathy Peers wrote: "If the local authority, which the parish council understands is the owner of the land, wishes to dispose of it, perhaps it would consider donating it to the people of Humberston who could then use it as a public space/wildlife area for local people to enjoy."

Following the unexpected outcome of the vote, NELC and Engie officers looked incandescent with rage.

The two organisations have the option of appealing to an independent inspector.

But such a course of action could be costly

It would also bring huge reputational damage to both  given that they would be seeking to overturn  a decision that had been determined democratically.

In the circumstances, their best option is probably to bite the bullet and accede to the parish council's request by donating the land to the community.

The Grimsby News says: NELC and Engie got their fingers badly burned with this outcome - and it serves them right. They thought they could make a financial killing by destroying a meadow, then developing the site with lucrative housing. But the way they went about the project was totally unethical. Even in the face of massive local opposition, they proceeded regardless. And since when has it been appropriate for would-be developers to determine their own applications? How can that be impartial? As it happens, the councillors, too, have scarcely cloaked themselves in glory. Their reasons for refusal were feeble, and one  committee member even cast his vote the opposite way to which he intended. Clearly, retraining is urgently required for planning officers and councillors alike.