Agenda item

The Committee considered the application for 49 dwellings on a 2.72 Ha site allocated for residential development. The site, located on the eastern side of Nettleham Road, comprised former cropland with grassland, hedgerows, and small trees. It was bordered by residential areas, green space, and commercial properties.

The proposal included 12 affordable and 37 market dwellings, with a mix of one to five bedroom units. The application had been amended to address concerns from consultees and the Local Planning Authority, with changes to the layout while maintaining the same number of dwellings.

The Officer confirmed that there were no updates for this application. An allocated site under Policy S81 of the local plan was presented. The site was proposed for 49 dwellings as a full planning application. The proposed site plan was shown. The proposed housing mix was presented, indicating that 25% would be affordable housing units. The proposed affordable housing plan was displayed, with affordable houses asterisked on the plan and the access point to the west off Nettleham Road.

Various proposed floor plans and elevations were shown, including different types of dwellings such as bungalows, terrace dwellings, semi-detached houses, and detached houses. Examples of the house types included Deene, Albany, Greenwich, Regent, and Sandringham. The existing and proposed site sections were also displayed.

Photographs of the site were shown, taken on Nettleham Road looking south towards the site. The access point was indicated on the bend in the road. Additional photographs were shown from the opposite direction, with the access point straight ahead. Views from within the site, including the eastern boundary and southern boundary, were displayed. Further photographs showed existing dwellings forming the Alders and Cade Close. Finally, photographs from the northeast corner looking west and southwest of the site were presented.

The Chairman thanked the Officer for her presentation and invited Mr Mark Foster, who was registered to speak as the applicant, to take his seat.

Mr. Mark Foster, Director of Lindum Homes, addressed the Committee. It was noted that Lindum Homes was a local family-run construction company based in North Hykeham, employing around 600 local employees. The company's commitment to quality was highlighted, referencing their current scheme in Welton. The Welton scheme was nearing completion, and the aim was to continue housing development in West Lindsey with the Scothern site.

The scheme proposed 49 dwellings and had received a recommendation for approval from the Officers. Pre-application public consultation was undertaken with local residents and the Parish Council, and their responses informed the application. Amendments were made in consultation with Officers, statutory consultees, and the Parish Council.

It was emphasised that Scothern had been identified as a sustainable location for development, compliant with both the local plan and the neighbourhood plan. The housing mix included one to five bedroom houses, both market sale and affordable, with 25% affordable housing units. The scheme was designed to be net zero in terms of energy consumption. Residential amenities were considered, with each house exceeding the recommended separation distances. Additional parking was included as requested by Lincolnshire County Council Highways. A 10% biodiversity net gain was achieved, with some contributions required off-site. Drainage proposals included diverting development water southwards into the Anglian Water Network, with an underground storage tank.

The development would contribute to local schools and NHS services, providing around half a million pounds towards local infrastructure. Mr Foster thanked Officers for their support in improving the scheme, which was deemed a quality, policy-compliant development.

The Chairman thanked Mr Foster and as there was no Officer comments, the Chairman turned to Members for comment.

The committee expressed appreciation for the clarity and quality of the plans and photographs presented, noting the improvement from previous years. Concerns were raised regarding the road network and highways issues, particularly the tight junction near the Bottle and Glass pub in Scothern and the frequent accidents at the junction with the A158 and Scothern Lane through Sudbrook. It was suggested that construction traffic should avoid these problematic routes and instead use alternative routes to minimise disruption to local residents.

The Officer confirmed that a construction management plan condition recommended by Lincolnshire County Council Highways included routes for construction traffic and disposal of excavated material. It was agreed that the condition could be made more specific to address the identified issues.

Committee Members commented that the proposed housing density was appropriate for a medium sized rural village, adding sustainability to the community. The developer and Officer team were praised for their work on the application, with the material palette and biodiversity net gain highlighted as positive aspects.

The inclusion of one, two, and three bedroom houses and bungalows was welcomed, addressing the need for downsizing and affordable housing within the district. Concerns about flooding were acknowledged, with the plan to divert water away from the village deemed satisfactory.

The Committee stressed the importance of maintaining riparian responsibilities to mitigate flooding issues and emphasised the positive impact of biodiversity measures, such as hedgehog boxes. The development was considered well-placed and compliant with the neighbourhood plan. The Committee concluded by requesting that construction traffic avoid routes through Nettleham to prevent disruption to the Bill Baileys play area.

Having been proposed and seconded, the Chairman took the vote, and it was agreed that planning permission be GRANTED, subject to conditions and an additional informative around construction traffic routing, and the signing of a Section 106 agreement as delegated to Officers.