Lincoln quarry home plans progressing, but residents raise concerns

Plans for housing on a quarry have moved forward after nearly three years of silence.

It’s proposed that 70 homes would be built on the disused quarry on Riseholme Road, which provided limestone for repairs to Lincoln Cathedral.

The application was first submitted in 2022 to Lincolnshire County Council, which has responsibility for quarries, provoking dozens of people to sign a petition against it.

The scheme has now been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council, the local planning authority, in a sign that it is now moving forward.

The plans are being developed by Lindum Homes in partnership with Lincoln Cathedral, and more than 50 people have sent written objections to the county council so far.

Last month residents said that they remained fiercely opposed to it.

Chloe, whose home backs onto the site, said: “My biggest concern is how so many cars would get onto Riseholme Road, which is already really busy.

“We’ve lost the school playing field across the road for student accommodation, we’ve lost the green space near the petrol station to new homes – what’s left?”

The plans include a new access road from Riseholme Road and two pedestrian footpaths.

The former quarry isn’t publicly accessible, but residents said they valued the views, with the area becoming a wildlife haven in recent years.

A local man who asked not to be named said: “I’ve lived here for 30 years, and we have a wonderful view of the old quarry.

“I suppose that makes us NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) but we don’t want to lose it. We love it the way it is.”

The site has been owned by the cathedral since the 1800s and provided limestone for its restoration from 1992, but it’s now considered to be redundant.

Planning documents say: “The proposal aims to optimise the potential of the site to create a new residential scheme providing up to a maximum of 70 houses.

“The site is surrounded by residential houses and, as the quarry is no longer in use, it is a maintenance liability for the cathedral and has the potential to improve the local area by providing new housing stock.”

The plans are currently open for public comment on the City of Lincoln Council website.