Agenda and minutes

There were none.

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2025 (copy enclosed). 

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2025.

AGREED:

That the minutes be signed as a correct record.

(Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.)

Cllr Hutchinson confirmed that she had been lobbied before the meeting.

There were none.

Full application for Proposed residential development (123 dwellings) – previously approved under H11-0398-12 at Land off Little London, Long Sutton, Spalding (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Members debated the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance, with the following comments being raised:

• The site had inadequate vehicular and pedestrian access which presented significant safety concerns;
• The proposed development had both an increased density and lower design quality compared to the extant permission (of an exceptionally designed Eco development) and therefore the current application was not considered suitable for the site;
• Social housing should be distributed throughout the site rather than concentrated in one area;
• Poor vistas were envisaged when travelling through the development with outer fencing effectively ‘hemming in’ the site and limiting the feeling of openness. The development should face the open space rather than backing against it;
• The proposed development was not sympathetic to the legacy of the site as a wildlife area and concern was expressed regarding the trees and ecology on the site. The tree report related to the 2012 application rather than being updated for the current application;
• A new iteration of the Local Plan had been in place since the extant permission was granted which warranted a reassessment of the application against current policy;
• The character and layout of the site was ‘urban’ and therefore not sympathetic to its environs within an edge of town rural location; and
• The benefits of the additional social housing did not outweigh the significant ecological harms that would be caused.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:  

That the application be refuseddue to concerns about the character and layout of the proposal, increased density and lower design quality of properties compared to the extant permission, trees and significant ecological harm, vehicular and pedestrian access and safety.

(Moved by Councillor Tennant, Seconded by Councillor Tyrrell)

Oral representations were received in respect of the above application in line with the Council’s scheme of public speaking at Planning Committee meetings:

Supporter:  Daniel Sharp (LDC) (Agent)

Full application for Construction of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure at Sutton Bridge Solar Farm, Land to the South of Centenary Way, Sutton Bridge (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Members debated the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance, with the following comments being raised:

• The project presented the use of renewables in the right place with the utilisation of energy storage systems on poor quality farmland being supported;
• The application contributed positively towards energy security;

• A decommissioning mechanism would need to be explored and considered at the appropriate time;
• The designation of ‘solar site’ rather than ‘solar farm’ was preferred; and
• The allocated neutral grassland appeared to be used as tracks during the development phase and as such this area needed to be in a good enough condition to meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:

That permission be granted subject to the conditions outlined at section 9.0 of the report.

(Moved by Councillor Brewis, Seconded by Councillor Bingham)

Oral representations were received in respect of the above application in line with the Council’s scheme of public speaking at Planning Committee meetings:

Supporter: Katie Emmitt (Agent)

S192 Lawful Use Cert application for Use of premises as a home for up to five children or young people as a single household (use Class C3) at 19 Langwith Drive, Holbeach, Spalding (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Prior to the meeting, the Senior Planning Lawyer had identified two points of clarification that needed to be sought and therefore had strongly advised that the case be deferred to allow such clarification to be attained prior to determination of the application by the committee.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:

That the application be deferred to enable the points of clarification to be attained prior to determination.

(Moved by Councillor Avery, Seconded by Councillor Beal)

Full application for Erection of 3 dwellings with garages – re-submission of H02-0899-22 at Land at Blackbird Close, Crowland (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Members debated the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance, with the following comments being raised:

• The development frontage was not typical of the established properties on Peterborough Road but had followed a newly cramped design;
• The location of the green area promoted an appearance that the development was cramped;
• Concern was expressed regarding the future intended use of the green space at the end of, and outside of, the current application site. The utilisation of the green space within the current application would render it less cramped;
• The requirement for Plot 3 to have ‘obscured glazing’ in a bedroom generally suggested that the building was in the wrong place;
• The function and flow of the site needed greater consideration regarding parking and general usage:
  • The parking layout and shared vehicular access direct from Peterborough Road to Plots 1 and 2;
  • The existence of a telegraph pole at the access point;
  • The likelihood that Plot 3, as a five-bedroom property, would need the use of more than the two allocated parking bays;
  • The position of the garage for Plot 3 did not maximise the full potential of parking availability; and
  • The household waste collection point for Plot 3 appeared to be on the footpath;
• The differential in the land level caused a potential flood risk to existing properties.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:  

That the application be deferred to allow negotiation with developers to make amendments in respect of the following concerns raised by members of the committee relating to refuse, drainage, parking, access, visibility, design and cramped nature of the site.

(Moved by Councillor Redgate, Seconded by Councillor Avery)

Oral representations were received in respect of the above application in line with the Council’s scheme of public speaking at Planning Committee meetings:

Objector: Mark Stanojevic (Resident)

Sec 73 Modification application for Construction and operation of a micro energy storage facility – approved under H09-0597-24. Modification of Conditions 2 & 3 to allow amendments to previously approved plans at Land to the East of Boston Road, Holbeach, Spalding (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Members debated the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance, with the following comments being raised:

• The compact nature of the boxes was welcomed;
• A preference that the colour of the boxes match their surroundings so that they are masked from view as much as possible; and

• That the screening and fencing on all sites are not varied from the original approvals.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:

That permission be granted subject to the conditions outlined at section 9.0 of the report.

(Moved by Councillor Redgate, Seconded by Councillor Avery)

Sec 73 Modification application for Construction and operation of a micro energy storage facility – approved under H08-0469-24. Modification of Conditions 2 & 3 to allow amendments to previously approved plans at Land at Whitehall/Belchmire Lane, Gosberton, Spalding (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Members debated the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance, with the following comments being raised:

• The compact nature of the boxes was welcomed;
• A preference that the colour of the boxes match their surroundings so that they are masked from view as much as possible; and

• That the screening and fencing on all sites are not varied from the original approvals.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:

That permission be granted subject to the conditions outlined at section 9.0 of the report.

(Moved by Councillor Redgate, Seconded by Councillor Avery)

Sec 73 Modification application for Construction and operation of a micro energy storage facility – approved under H16-0586-24. Modification of Conditions 2 & 3 to allow amendments to previously approved plans at Parkside Crescent, Spalding, Lincolnshire (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Members debated the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance, with the following comments being raised:

• The compact nature of the boxes was welcomed;
• A preference that the colour of the boxes match their surroundings so that they are masked from view as much as possible; and

• That the screening and fencing on all sites are not varied from the original approvals.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:

That permission be granted subject to the conditions outlined at section 9.0 of the report.

(Moved by Councillor Redgate, Seconded by Councillor Barnes)

Sec 73 Modification application for Construction and operation of a micro energy storage facility – approved under H16-0566-24. Modification of Conditions 2 & 3 to allow amendments to previously approved plans at Land on the South Side of Holbeach Road, Spalding, Lincolnshire (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Members debated the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance, with the following comments being raised:

• The compact nature of the boxes was welcomed;
• A preference that the colour of the boxes match their surroundings so that they are masked from view as much as possible; and

• That the screening and fencing on all sites are not varied from the original approvals.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:

That permission be granted subject to the conditions outlined at section 9.0 of the report.

(Moved by Councillor Sneath, Seconded by Councillor Casson)

Sec 73 Modification application for Construction and operation of a micro energy storage facility – approved under H16-0565-24. Modification of Conditions 2 & 3 to allow amendments to previously approved plans at Land on the North West Side of Roman Bank, Spalding, Lincolnshire (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) upon which the above application was to be determined, including their recommendations, copies of which had previously been circulated to all members.

Members debated the matter and fully explored the details of the application in light of prevailing policies and guidance, with the following comments being raised:

• The compact nature of the boxes was welcomed;
• A preference that the colour of the boxes match their surroundings so that they are masked from view as much as possible; and

• That the screening and fencing on all sites are not varied from the original approvals.

The full debate was not repeated here as a livestream of this Planning Committee Meeting could be viewed on South Holland District Council’s Facebook page for a limited period of time, in line with the Democratic Services Privacy Notice.

AGREED:

That permission be granted subject to the conditions outlined at section 9.0 of the report.

(Moved by Councillor Brewis, Seconded by Councillor Beal)

To provide an update on recent appeal decisions (report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Lead Development Management Planner (Interim) which provided an update on recent appeal decisions.

AGREED:

That the report be noted.

There were none.

There were none.