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| Members of the planning committee debate the Cyden Homes application at the October 31 meeting |
THWARTED housebuilding company Cyden Homes has been allowed the last word in the row over its bid to build 249 houses on agricultural land off Louth Road in New Waltham.
Against the strong advice of their most senior planning officers, councillors turned down the scheme at a meeting of North East Lincolnshire council's planning committee (as previously reported in the Grimsby News).
But in a controversial move, NELC has now decided to post the transcript of Cyden Homes' presentation to the committee on its website.
However, it has published no balancing transcript from the objectors to Cyden's application, among them ward councillor Cllr Stan Shreeve who gave a most lucid and eloquent recitation.
It is thought that Cyden Homes will submit an appeal to an independent inspector for the committee's decision to be overturned, but this had not been confirmed as of noon today.
For the record, the refusal notice authorised by the planning committee states:
"The development by reason of the number of dwellings proposed would result in adverse levels of traffic which would cause a severe adverse impact on the road network through the resultant congestion to the detriment of highway amenity and to the detriment of local amenity and health through the resultant air pollution."
This, by contrast, is the Cyden Homes transcript in support of its application:
"Good Morning Chair, and member of the committee.
"Thank for allowing me to speak in support of the application today.
The proposed development is on an allocated site in the North East Lincs Local Plan.
"This application accords with all the policies of the Local Plan.
"We have worked closely with the highways department to provide a satisfactory and safe working junction arrangement, accessed from the newly formed traffic lights at the David Wilson Homes development.
"The junction has been modelled via the latest traffic flow data and has been proven that it does not does not have a severe impact on the road network.
"We have provided a secondary emergency access at Maple Grove in case it is ever required.
The highways officer is satisfied that the roads and junctions works, and the roads have been tracked to accommodate large vehicles including emergency and refuse vehicles.
"The proposed attenuation ponds will provide an all-year-round wetland habitat and a refuge for water voles via an island.
"Along with reed and marginal planting, it will increase the biodiversity of the site in relation to pond invertebrates.
"As part of the development, we propose to provide over 1000 sqm of wildflower meadow for bees and pollinatinginsects, with green corridors running through the site.
"Also proposed is planting of woodland, native species hedgerows and avenue trees.
"Bat boxes, sparrow terraces and swiftbricks will be incorporated to help provide habitat early in the development to supplement the woodland planting scheme
"Gaps in fences will allow hedgehogs to navigate private gardens as hedgehog highways.
"All of our ecological enhancement have the backing of the council ecologist and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
"We do understand there have been local objections to the scheme.
"We have tried to address the concerns by providing bungalow dwellings where existing bungalows are situated with larger than required separation distances of 26 metres on average.
"This would extends to 36 metres where two-storey properties back to new two-storey dwellings.
"The existing houses on Maple Grove, which front on to the proposed development, enjoy a landscape buffer and green wedge between them creating a further feeling of open separation.
"We are a local developer providing local jobs and with a proven track record of delivering quality housing in North East Lincolnshire.
"We have presented a well-designed scheme, which is deliverable and will support the council's five-year housing supply requirement whilst contributing to affordable housing and education in New Waltham.
"We therefore request that the committee approve this application." the plan
The Grimsby News says: It is unusual, if not unprecedented, for transcripts of presentations made to planning committee meetings to be published in retrospect by the council. On balance, this seems a welcome move - but with a huge proviso. Opportunity should always be afforded for presentation of both sides of the argument -not just the one favoured by the planning officers. NELC needs to address this oversight without delay.
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