A controversial 200-home development in Bottesford has once again been in the spotlight – this time to approve a house type change as a result of changing developers.
Full permission was previously granted for the scheme off Moorwell Road, Yaddlethorpe, in the Bottesford Ward. Then, late last year, Persimmon Homes successfully applied for removal of around £1.5m of S106 contributions to infrastructure and affordable home numbers.
Now, Avant Homes (West Yorkshire) Ltd is taking on the project and consequently applied to change to its house types. A councillor speaking in opposition to the house change described it as “the last chance to rectify what I believe was a mistake in planning terms”.
In a highly contentious decision last November, decided by the chair’s casting vote, it was agreed after an extra independent financial viability assessment to remove most of the S106 requirements. This included £1.1m towards local education, including £700,000 that had been destined for Frederick Gough School as the local secondary.
Ever since, this has been infrequently referenced in discussion of other planning applications by dissenting Labour planning committee members. And the topic inevitably arose again as the Moorwell Road site came back to North Lincolnshire Council‘s planning committee.
Cllr Len Foster addressed the committee and initially highlighted drainage concerns, saying: “I’ve been down there this morning and believe you me, Wellington boots aren’t sufficient to walk this site this morning.”
He then turned to the planning history and suggested refusal would give “just a chance that the new housing builder would refer back”. There could end up being a position on the development “acceptable to local residents”, he said.
He also argued the homes proposed were contrary to North Lincolnshire’s demands. Cllr Foster said the number of five bedroom homes “beggars belief”.
Officially, the scheme comprises 88 four-bed, 44 three, 25 two and 43 one-bed homes. The one-beds are an addition into the mix. However, the majority of new house types provide a live/work room at first-floor level, which could potentially add another bedroom. This means there theoretically could be up to 35 five-bed homes.
(Image: North Lincolnshire Council)
“For once, I agree with Cllr Foster’s observations,” said Bottesford Ward Cllr John Davison, a committee member. He reiterated he had consistently opposed the development and the removal of most of the linked infrastructure money.
“It’s to me dreadful that they’re able to negate their responsibility to the local community,” he said of the S106 money issue previously. He shared drainage concerns, and called reliance on pumping stations, which this site will have one of, “terrible”.
“I’m sick and tired of applications on this site going on casting votes,” said Cllr Max Bell, predicting how it would pan out. He called 17.5 per cent of the homes being potentially five beds “absolutely ridiculous”. He suggested Conservative committee members “think perhaps cynically about how unhappy the residents of Bottesford will be about this”.
His prediction of a tied vote and plea to Conservative members was undercut by fellow Labour Cllr Mick Grant choosing to support the house type change. He said the argument had been lost already on S106 at the development. “This isn’t about it. This about the house types.”
However, Cllr Grant expressed frustration that remaining S106 money has not been formally signed on. This will still consist of £177,000 for Riddings Leisure Centre and Library.
The house types change was approved five votes to three.
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
