‘Disgusted!’ Councillors’ outrage as property developer’s £1 million community contributions slashed by ‘measly 25%’ on 70-home Spalding development… and that cash will go towards ‘road to nowhere’

A councillor was left ‘disgusted by the system’ after it was decided a property developer will have to pay less than a quarter of its £1 million community contributions.

Seagate Homes’ application to build 70 dwellings on the Ivanda Nursery site at Spalding’s Monks House Lane was passed by eight votes to four at last night’s South Holland District Council’s planning committee, despite anger from the chamber.

The business was originally asked to pay £1,031,882 in section 106 money - which developers contribute to ease the pressures on education, healthcare and infrastructure when greatly bumping up the population of an area - and build 17 affordable homes as part of a planning permission previously granted by the authority in February.

But following a independent viability assessment it was deemed that the maximum funds payable should be £225,000 - with planning officer’s recommending all the cash go directly towards funding the under construction Western Relief Road.

“You’ll probably not be surprised to hear from me about how depressed we get at these viability things, we’re stuck with these national policies and have to go along with them,” Coun Chris Brewis slammed.

“I remain disgusted by the system we work under at the moment.

“This is £806,000 less than we originally agreed. We’re stuck with it in a difficult time for the public purse.”

Coun Brewis believed SHDC was losing out because the developer overpaid for the land.

“What I resent is the fact that if a developer spends too much buying the land we have to pick up the ticket, and a lot of us resent it nationally, locally,” he continued.

“All over the country this happens and we wonder why the country is in a sad mess at the moment.

“If they pay too much for the land, I’d love to say ‘tough’. We’re stuck with it, but I don’t intend to vote for it for this reason.”

Coun Andrew Woolf added that he would also be unable to vote in favour of the development.

“I’m very unhappy with this. We’ve been offered about 25% and where’s that going to go?” he asked.

“It’s almost come to the point of being a pointless application.

“If this gets approved, ok, 70 houses get built, but it doesn’t help a road, it doesn’t help the other infrastructure, it doesn’t help the NHS, it doesn’t help education.

“We end up with 70 houses, that’s going to overfill the town even more (with people) who can’t get out.

“I think it’s completely wrong. We have to take a stance. We’ve got a measly 25%. It’s appalling, it really is.”

Coun Jack Tyrrell questioned whether the committee could demand 17 affordable housing be built instead of the £225,000 payment, but officers said that money would only equate to up to three affordable homes.

Speaking at the meeting, Seagate Homes technical director Lee Russell explained the developer would use funding from Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, for 17 affordable homes.

“In addition, in line with our social value intent, we will be offering play equipment to a local park outside of that section 106,” he added.

“The site is unquestionably prime development location that we hope to see housing delivered in a timely fashion as Seagate Homes had wanted to commence construction in January.”

The Western Relief Road has been labelled the ‘road to nowhere’ as it appears to be years away from completion due to there being no funding in place for the middle and southern sections.

At Wednesday’s meeting, planners reiterated their recommendation that the full £225,000 go to the relief road pot, rather than split between services, saying the development is the ‘greatest priority’.

What do you think? Let us know your views in the comments below…