Letter: Stand up for Holbeach - if it’s not viable don’t build it

Councillors have been urged to stand up for Holbeach as plans to build 650 more homes are considered.

Writing to the Spalding Guardian in a personal capacity, chairman of the town's parish council Sophie Hutchinson has expressed her concerns.

The green light is set to be given tonight (Wednesday) to a development on land between the A17 and A151 to the west of Holbeach.

However, the applicants, Lincolnshire County Council and RH and AM Goodley, have asked for reductions to be made in what they pay in section 106 money and what how much affordable housing they provide.

Here's what she said:

If it's not viable don't build it

Re: the 650 homes to be considered at the planning committee meeting this week.

I must say I am concerned at the proposed reduction in affordable homes before the development has even begun.

As usual, the bulk of the affordable housing is set to be delivered in the later stages of the development - by which point (as is evident from other developments) the developer uses ‘viability’ to reduce the affordable housing, not increase it, and South Holland District Council let them get away with it!

If this were only happening occasionally, then it would be easier to understand the justification for approving these applications.

However, these reductions are becoming the norm for every new development.

I believe that if a development cannot meet the needs of our local people by providing sufficient numbers of affordable housing, it should not continue.

In simple terms, if it’s not viable, don’t build it!

This development has been earmarked for several years now.

Therefore, the relevant authorities have had plenty of time to put plans in place to improve the towns infrastructure.

However, apart from Peppermint Roundabout, the public have seen hardly any action on this front.

When Holbeach Parish Council have tried to challenge this issue with SHDC, through our open letter, we haven’t even received an acknowledgment, let alone the answers the public deserve!

We need local councillors to be challenging authorities on this issue and championing the public’s concerns, but unfortunately SHDC’s failure to respond only increases distrust between local people and authorities.

Sophie Hutchinson

Holbeach Parish Chairman, writing in a personal capacity