Setback for Cyden Homes as NELC planners turn down proposal for 300 new homes in New Waltham

                                                                          

The arable field earmarked for a new housing estate

THERE was a blunt message to Grimsby-area housebuilders at today's North East Lincolnshire Council planning committee.

Cllr Ron Shepherd warned them: "We're not going to bend down and tell them they can build more houses.

"We need to get this message across to developers."

Cllr Shepherd (Con, Scartho) went on to say that he would be "embarrassed" if the authority were to approve a proposal for construction of  up to 300 houses on agricultural land west of Louth Road in New Waltham.

The application had been submitted by locally-based Cyden Homes that prides itself on giving employment to 90 staff and supporting local manufacturers and suppliers.

But, whooped on enthusiastically by between 30 and 40 residents, councillor after councillor spoke against the proposal which was unanimously refused after  planning case officer Bethany Loring explained that the greenfield site had not been designated for development in the Local Plan.

Said Ms Loring: "This development would bring visual intrusion into open countryside to the detriment of the character of the area."

She also noted that Cyden had declined to provide a survey of the land which is of archaeological interest because crop circles have been detected.

And she also expressed misgivings about the potentially adverse  impact on overwintering birds including waders and wildfowl if the project were to go ahead. 

Other speakers in the 50-minute discussion included Cllr Ian Lindley (Con, Scartho) who was critical of a highway officer's report that the proposed development would have "no significant impact" on traffic flow.

Noting that traffic is invariably heavily congested in rush hours, he described the officer's comment as "absolutely ridiculous".

In the past, Cyden Homes has sometimes appealed (successfully) when NELC planning decisions have gone against it, but, on this occasion, it might think twice about doing so given that the site is outside the development boundary. 

                                                          

The proposed layout of the development if permission had been granted