Developer Cyden Homes submits appeal after council blocks its bid to build 249 new homes in New Waltham

 Members of the planning committee debate the Cyden Homes application at the meeting last October

DEVELOPER Cyden Homes has, as expected, lodged an appeal against North East Lincolnshire Council's refusal to allow 249 homes to be built on land off the A16 Louth Road in New Waltham.

It was back in October last that the authority's planning committee voted 6-5 against the  project going ahead (as reported in this blog on October 30 and November 12).

Unusually, councillors made their decision against the recommendation of officers who had recommended approval.

It subsequently announced the decision thus: "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."

The appeal will now be determined by an independent inspector from the Planning Inspectorate.

He or she will probably host an 'informal'  round-table discussion where the issues will be thrashed out by representatives of Cyden Homes and objectors with senior planning officer Richard Limmer  looking on.

Thereafter, there will probably be a site visit - the timing of which could be critical to the outcome of the hearing.

If it is rush hour the  traffic could indeed be slow moving. If it is at another time of day, traffic will be flowing freely.

All parties will be aware that all local authorities are under immense pressure from the Government to increase the rate of housebuilding.