Decision reached on plans for 290 homes in Brigg
A decision has been made on 290 homes proposed in Brigg.
Bellway Homes' plans for land off Wrawby Road were deferred last month for a site visit. Though a resident aired traffic and drainage concerns, a majority of North Lincolnshire Council's planning committee have given it the green light.
The scheme is set to have no affordable homes at all. S106 contributions to local infrastructure have also been mostly waived due to development viability. Re-appraisals of this are set to occur on the completion of the 100th and 200th homes. For now, the only guaranteed S106 conditions relate to open space on site and £60,000 to nearby Woodbine Park.
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The 290 homes will comprise 39 two-bed, 121 three-bed and 130 four-bed properties. Outline permission has been sought for another 266 homes, which awaits approval.
During the meeting, Bellway Homes planning manager Sarah Carr said the 290 homes site was within a wider area allocated for housing since 2016. A number of site-specific elements had delayed development. "As an allocated site, this scheme will contribute to planned housing delivery in the area," Ms Carr said.
The homes would also deliver the first part of the Brigg link road. "We hope to make a start on site within this calendar year," she added.
Keith Gallimore, who lived virtually opposite the development, raised traffic and drainage concerns, saying: "I believe the development will add to an already busy and often gridlocked road. We've lived there for ten years, so have quite a lot of experience of how bad that road can be."
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"Where there is a problem with the A180, the A18 through Brigg is used as an alternative route," he later added. A large pond had been built at the back of their property to deal with water running off a nearby hill. He noted proposed surface water drainage will go into the existing watercourse via culverts underneath the main road. He said their concern was should the culverts block, it would cause flooding.
Cllr Carl Sherwood spoke on his own and fellow Brigg and Wolds Cllr Rob Waltham's behalf. "If this were to go ahead, I would advise we put the speed limit down from 40 to 30, at least to the access," he said of Wrawby Road. He also requested a pedestrian crossing, and for the £60,000 for Woodbine Park to be paid upfront before development.
Reflecting on the committee's earlier site visit, Cllr John Davison wanted to be sure proposed access gave suitable vision and was satisfied it would.
He agreed with the suggested conditions of Cllr Carl Sherwood, adding another to prevent vehicular access from South View Avenue. "When I sat on Wrawby Road, having my coffee, I was absolutely gobsmacked how much traffic uses that road," said Cllr Grant. He opposed on the lack of S106 cash grounds. "Section 106, it winds me up, it winds me up something terrible."
"I've been against every application that comes here where they say 'viability, we can't afford it'." Cllr Grant has spoken out about it on every occasion in recent months it has happened, though did not oppose a Kirton-in-Lindsey application that waived it.
Cllr Max Bell echoed his comments on S106 contributions, adding so far, previous council clawback mechanisms to retrieve future S106 cash if viability improved had provided "nul points". The Brigg development he could not support because the lack of S106 funding did not compensate for disruption to existing residents. He also criticised the lack of affordable housing. "Not one, not 0.3 per cent is affordable housing. I do have to question why that is the case."
The 290 homes proposal was approved five votes to three, with the decision split along party lines, Conservatives approving.