65 homes in Winterton get final planning approval despite bungalow privacy and ‘struggling services’ concerns

Detailed plans for more than 60 homes in Winterton have been granted planning permission.

This is despite concerns over the town’s amenities, and loss of privacy and overshadowing for adjacent bungalows. One Winterton man, highlighting his view that services were not keeping up with population growth, challenged anyone to come to the town and drink the tap water.

Outline permission was granted on appeal for the development on land behind 99 North Street in the town. Scothern Construction Ltd sought reserved matters permission for the design and layout.

It was deferred before for a site visit and to reflect concerns of residents, partly raised by their MP, Sir Nic Dakin. It returned to North Lincolnshire Council‘s planning committee with some amendments.

This included a reduction in the number of houses by one, to 65. Extra plots close to Newport Drive were also revised to be bungalows.

‘I challenge anyone to drink the tap water’

Resident Rick Hemming highlighted that four plots will be two-storey homes facing bungalows in Newport Drive. They would have “direct line of sight into the bedrooms of existing bungalows,” he said, adding 20 metre separation does not solve this.

If it went ahead, he requested all plots along the Newport Drive boundary to be single-storey bungalow. Mr Hemming ideally wanted it refused.

“We have less services and facilities in the area, yet it keeps expanding,” he said, noting a town planning document some years ago that warned services and provision were “not keeping pace” with the town’s growth. Schools were at capacity, the medical practice “continues to struggle” with demand, and the road network was “frequently congested”, particularly in the centre.

“The drinking water is struggling to keep with demand. I’d challenge anyone to come to Winterton and drink the tap water,” he said.. Approval would likely make Winterton “an unsustainable community”.

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A representative for Scothern Construction noted the proposals were “entirely in line with outline permission”, which had established the principle of development. He cited the now eight bungalows on the southern boundary with Newport Drive as evidence Scothern had listened to concerns raised.

He described the approximate 20 metre gap between the nearest new homes and Newport Drive as “substantial” and safeguarded privacy. The proposal was “respectful of the rural setting and is representative of the surrounding context”.

“I’m not really sure that any of my concerns have been addressed,” said an unconvinced Winterton Ward Cllr Helen Rowson. She was “quite confused” as to why plots 12-15 on the Newport Drive boundary side are still two bedroom, two-storey. “I’m still not happy about this application and would probably like the applicants to go away and reverse,” she said of the plans.

Cllr Carol Ross asked if it was possible to defer until the question of the two-storey homes on the Newport Drive side was resolved. Legal services advised deferment was possible, if it was felt there was insufficient information. She moved for deferment, on grounds of not enough information regarding the layout and concerns from the previous committee meeting.

Cllr Mick Grant intervened, worried about an appeal against non-determination if it was deferred. “That could be a problem.” He was for the development’s approval, adding: “The site I saw this morning was abslutely disgusting, it’s a mess, it wants tidying up.”

He also suggested it was “laughable”, compared to densely packed Scunthorpe housing, the privacy concerns despite the 20 metre separation distance. Permission was granted on a split vote.

Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe