Sea Island Developments given permission for 69-bed extra care housing development in Spalding

An extra care housing development has been passed for a riverside location — despite concerns over the sewage and possible contamination of the land.

Sea Island Developments has been given the green light to go ahead with a 69-bed accommodation block off Roman Bank, facing the River Welland in Spalding — with apartments to offer independent living at the same time as access to support services.

The plans were submitted in 2022 but have had a number of amendments and discussions since then and have only now been given the green light.

Documents published by South Holland District Council show that there have been issues flagged with the fact that the nearby Spalding Water Recycling Centre — in West Marsh Road — cannot actually cope with the development.

However, this will not bar the plans nor will the developer be asked to pay any money to Anglian Water to fund necessary improvements.

An officer’s report stated: “The foul drainage from this development is in the catchment of Spalding Water Recycling Centre which currently does not have capacity to treat the flows from the development site.

“Anglian Water are obligated to accept the foul flows from the development with the benefit of planning consent and would therefore take the necessary steps to ensure that there is sufficient treatment capacity should the planning authority grant planning permission.”

The report also contains information from the district council’s environmental protection team about potential contamination at the site, which was a former Jewsons builders merchants.

The report says that, in 2008, ‘levels of arsenic and lead as well as petroleum hydrocarbons and poly aromatic hydrocarbons’ were found. It notes that changes in the way contamination is considered have occurred since then.

A condition will be placed on the development for a full report to be carried out, adding: “In terms of the granting of planning permission, although free phase hydrocarbons were identified, I do think that it will be technically possible for the developer to achieve a safe development with a robust remediation strategy once an appropriate site investigation has been undertaken. I agree that significant site clearance will be required before that investigation can reasonably take place.”

The development would be available to residents who are assessed as needing an extra level of care to support their independence.

It would be three storeys at the sides with a four storey block in the middle with underground parking with 24 spaces.

It would contain closed care apartments, with communal and support facilities.

The communal facilities will include a shared activity room and kitchen, accessible toilets, a buggy store which includes charging facilities and laundry as well as two external terraces and breakout space.

Each apartment is described as ‘one bedroom, two person’ accommodation — but the plans state that they are likely to be occupied by one person and the NHS have been asked to estimate a population of 76.

The apartments would have a minimum floor area of 50m2 — with an open plan kitchen and private balcony along with one double bedroom and a bathroom, which could have a bath or wetroom.

The officer report added: “This proposal would change the nature of this site and result in a built form that would have the normal residential window relationships to adjoining dwellings; albeit with the scale differing to typical residential development. A wide consultation was undertaken and a site notice displayed and it is notable that no objections have been received. Overall, the proposal is considered to be appropriately designed and comprises a layout as to not cause an unacceptable impact upon neighbouring amenities.”

No members of the public commented on the plans — either during the planning process or after 750 letters were issued to nearby residents before the plans were lodged.

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