Plan to build council houses on Grantham green space is halted
A plan to build council houses on a large open space popular with families and dog walkers has been put on the back-burner.
South Kesteven District Council announced earlier this month that it wants to build 65 council-owned properties on the site of the former Blessed Hugh More School site in Grantham.
The proposal caused uproar among neighbours in Rosetti Court, Tennyson Avenue, Burns Close, Windsor Drive, Scotney Drive and Sandringham Drive, which bound the site.
It led to a Facebook group being set up to co-ordinate objections.
It was set up by Elvis Stooke, who lives in Scotney Drive. He went on to call for the consultation to be put on hold until residents could safely meet amid the coronavirus crisis.
Now, SKDC has put the plan on hold.
Cabinet member for housing and planning Councillor Robert Reid said: “We started the consultation on the potential development of the former Blessed Hugh More site with the best of intentions to make good use of land to provide much needed council homes in our district.
“There isn’t a planning application, this is only a proposal in preparation for a later planning application.
“We are aware of the covenant, and are in discussions about it, these discussions are ongoing.
“However, we are aware that this site and its future is of great interest and concern to nearby residents. Therefore, we are going to pause the current consultation.
“We will come forward with a wider consultation for the future of the site at a later date and commit to working with all interested parties, as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Mr Stooke was delighted at the news. He said: “I am pleased the council has chosen to cancel the consultation, this is the right move.
“This has never been against social housing, it’s about doing things in the right order in the proper manner, not just the people of Alma Park but for Grantham itself, and it shows we won’t be taken advantage of.”
The Journal has asked for further information on the covenant and its terms but SKDC has so far refused to do so.