Objectors to the major development in Lincoln, which would see 3,200 new houses built, were disappointed last night by an approval of 16 votes to 11 after a meeting at the Engine Shed at Lincoln University, after deliberations that lasted over five hours.
The new site, known as the Western Growth Corridor, will be developed by the city council and landowners Lindum Western Growth Community Ltd, but not until final approval has been given by the government who have been called in by the Conservative-led Lincolnshire County Council, with primary concerns centring around transport and flooding.
The 240-hectare development is one of Lincoln’s four Sustainable Urban Extensions (SUEs) which aims to provide housing and employment growth until 2036.
Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning for Lincolnshire County Council told us that the main objection to the development were the highway plans: “We believe there is a solution for the whole scheme to be delivered that includes the delivery of a piece of road and a new bridge over the railway line. We believe that that should be brought about at the beginning of this development, not after the first 300 houses have been built.
“The junctions around this area are already working at overcapacity and having over 300 homes without any real changes is just going to cause massive problems for highways users in that part of the city.”
Speaking on whether he felt the development should be strictly a local decision, Mr Davie said: “we are the highways authority, we have technical experts who deal with this stuff. We are doing it because this development will not deliver the outcomes that people who will live on it will want. Who’s going to be the defence lawyer for these people? If it had been left to experts, I think we could have resolved matters.”
The council’s decision is now in the hands of Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove, and if successful the county’s plans will be examined in further detail by his department before a final decision is given.
To read more about the scheme, click on this link: https://democratic.lincoln.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=5346&x=1
