Plans for 270 homes refused for second time

Plans for up to 270 homes on the edge of a Lincolnshire town have been refused for a second time.

The plans for land south-west of Bourne were originally rejected by South Kesteven District Council in August over concerns about their impact on the landscape and character of the area.

The application was reconsidered under the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), with applicants Barratt Redrow and Cooke Trustees Farming arguing the changes placed greater weight on housing delivery.

However, councillors voted unanimously to refuse the scheme. The application will now be referred to the secretary of state before any formal refusal can be issued.

The 270 homes, including up to 81 affordable homes, would have been built on agricultural land west of Raymond Mays Way with access from West Road.

In August, the council voted against the scheme but its decision required referral to the secretary of state before the council could issue a formal refusal.

The application returned to the council's planning committee meeting on Thursday after recent changes to NPPF meant the authority's reasons for refusal had to be re-evaluated.

The applicants argued the revised NPPF gave greater weight to housing benefits and strengthened the case for approval.

But planning officers recommended the committee stick with its decision, but to update the reasons for refusal in light of the new policy, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillors were told the applicants had provided the authority with additional information in an attempt to address some of the concerns.

The applicants argued the scheme would help address the district's shortfall in housing sites ready to deliver homes over the next five years.

They also said the scheme would have improved walking and cycling links, crossings and bus stops.

But the committee remained concerned about road safety, as well as the impact on the landscape and character of the area.

It argued that the applicants had failed to provide sufficient evidence that transport improvements would be made.

Councillor Helen Crawford told the meeting: "The one entrance egress is still on to a very busy 60 mile per hour road, with no crossings for anyone to get across.

"It will still lack connectivity to the rest of the town. It will still extend obtrusively into open countryside and you will lose the unique landscape of where the flat of the Fens meets the South Kesteven uplands."

If the secretary of state does not call in the application, the council has permission to formally reject the application.

Listen to highlights fromLincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch thelatest episode of Look North.

Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices