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| Artist's impression of the proposed development |
A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to build up to 120 homes on a farm field between New Waltham and Waltham has been turned down after it emerged that the land could be adjacent to a site with buried Roman and even pre-Roman artefacts.
This is not the only reason for refusal but it is one that seems to have struck a particular chord with senior North East Lincolnshire Council planning officer Lauren Birkwood.
Says she: "The site - opposite Robinson's farm shop on Station Road - lies adjacent to a complex of cropmarks that have been tentatively identified as iron age or Roman.
"These could extend on to the proposed development site, suggesting buried archaelogical remains."
The planning decision will come as a blow to landowner Lynda Tyler and would-be developer Snape Properties who maintain their project would generate economic and employment activity as well as providing new homes, some of them relatively low-cost.
But there were numerous objections from nearby residents about pressure on an already busy road, problematic access to the site, impact on landscape and wildlife plus creeping 'coalesence' between two villages which are keen to maintain their separate identities.
Some also expressed concern about potential disturbance during construction works to residents at the nearby Highgrove Care Home.
MPs do not normally involve themselves with planning matters, but even Brigg and Immingham representative Martin Vickers fired off a letter of protest from the House of Commons.
There were also objections from both New Waltham and Waltham parish councils.
It is possible that there will be an appeal to an independent planning inspector, but the applicants' case is potentially undermined by the fact that the site is not allocated for housing in the existing Local Plan.
* Images: Palmleaf Architects
The layout of the proposed development
The application site
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