Plans for up to 400 homes at Rectory Farm in Grantham given green light by South Kesteven District Council

Up to 400 new homes will be built as part of an urban extension to the north of Grantham, after plans were given the green light.

South Kesteven District Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved a proposed development of up to 400 houses as part of the Rectory Farm urban extension earlier today (Wednesday).

The outline application, which includes open spaces, sports pitches and a community pavilion, concerns a site of around 57 acres, with phase one of Rectory Farm, where there is permission for 448 homes, directly to the south.

The development would form part of phase two of the Rectory Farm urban extension, and would be accessed via an extension of the tree-lined avenue that runs north-south through phase one.

Under the conditions for approval are financial contributions, called Section 106 agreements, to education, healthcare and highways.

A highways impact statement from Lincolnshire County Council said that developments on Barrowby Road will “continue to exacerbate the capacity problems at the Asda roundabout”, but the Grantham Southern Relief Road will provide mitigation for this.

As such, LCC has requested £2,851 per home towards the project, as well as £200,000 for a signalised pedestrian crossing on Barrowby Road where the cycle path meets the A52 between Rectory Farm and Poplar Farm.

Councillor Mark Whittington (Con, Barrowby Gate) said that he was “really pleased” to see that money would be going towards the pedestrian crossing on the A52, adding that he is in discussion with MPs and National Highways over further safety improvements to the A52 west of Grantham.

Just over £2.4 million is required from the developer to go towards educational provisions from primary age to sixth form.

Around £1.1 million of this will go to Poplar Farm School, which has space to expand as part of phase one of the urban extension.

The remaining money for education will go towards secondary and sixth form provisions, with no specific schools outlined at this stage.

NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board has requested a contribution of £264,000.00 (£660 per dwelling) towards healthcare.

Although previously alarmed by the proposals, Barrowby Parish Council has noted its support for the application, but highlighted the fact that there is currently no safe pedestrian or cycling route from Barrowby to the site, as it requires them to cross the A1/A52 junction.

A further £50,000 is requested to improve two public footpaths in Barrowby, and £150,000 towards improving bus services.

Councillor Penny Milnes (Ind, Loveden Heath) raised concerns over the loss of ground nesting birds in the fields and requested that older people’s needs are considered when discussing the housing mix of the development.

Both of these issues can be considered at the reserved matters stage of the plans, when more details are discussed.

“We need to be aware of all of this when the reserved matters come back,” added Coun Milnes.

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