Bungalow concerns can’t stop plans for housing development
LATEST PLANNING APPLICATION FOR NEW HOMES GETS THE GREEN LIGHT
PLANS for 320 homes forming part of a Brough development set to feature 750 houses, as well as a new school, shops and open spaces have been approved by councillors.
East Riding Council’s Planning Committee passed Bellway Homes’ plans, in Ings Lane, Elloughton in the Brough South scheme, by ten votes to one.
Councillors heard from Bellway’s Paul Thornton that the third phase of the scheme formed part of “much wider” regeneration efforts for the area.
Mr Thornton added the mix of two to four-bedroom homes proposed along with four bungalows would help meet the East Riding’s housing needs.
Councillor Terry Gill said objectors were concerned about the lack of affordable housing on site and what the impact of raised land would be on flooding.
He added residents also feared the closure of the Common Lane level crossing would lead to a central spine road in the development being used instead, fuelling traffic problems.
Committee member Councillor Phil Davison said details in the plans on bungalows were “misleading” and called for more due to the shortage in the area.
The application passed by councillors dealt with reserve matters, or the details of the development, with outline approval granted in 2015.
Officers told the committee affordable housing requirements had been waived for the development because of the “immense” cost of raising the land to avoid flooding.
They added although the plans did not feature affordable homes, many of the three-bed properties planned were to have spare “box rooms” meaning they would not be expensive.
Mr Thornton told councillors the inclusion of such spare rooms came from buyer feedback suggesting they wanted home office and work space, especially due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Thornton said: “This development will see new shops and open spaces provided alongside the homes.
“We have been working together with the council on these plans, much of the design work has been done for us so we can concentrate on building an attractive development with benefits for the wider area.
“The variety of homes addresses the needs of the market and the scheme also includes bungalows.
“The spine road in the development will help with traffic when the level crossing closes.”
But Cllr Gill said the development’s housing offering was lacking.
The ward member said: “There’s a desperate shortage of bungalows in this area and there’s only four on the application.
“My own traffic research also suggests there will be 364 vehicle movements a week in Common Lane, all of those will go through the development’s central spine road when the level crossing closes.
“Many residents the closure of the necessary.
“Because of the coronavirus pandemic meetings on the plans that would normally have been held have not gone ahead, many of the amendments to the plans proposed are not widely known about.
“I would want the committee to temporarily send these plans back and for the developer to bring them forward with those for the fourth phase to look at them together rather than in piece meal.”
Councillor Phil Davison said he questioned why 38 per cent of the homes had two or three bedrooms given council reports stated there was a “high need” for affordable housing.
Mr Davison said: “In the application the title says 320 one and two storey homes, but there’s only four bungalows, that’s so misleading.
“We should tell them to go back and do better, there’s a shortage of bungalows in Elloughton Cum Brough.”
Councillor Michael Lee said: “I trust our housing officers to negotiate the best solution on the amount of housing, the amount here is obviously not ideal, but it’s understandable given the cost of raising the land.”
Committee chair Councillor David Tucker said: “As someone who lives in a bungalow myself, I’m not enamoured by the amount here.
“But we are where we are with this, and we’re bound by planning rules in our decision-making.” also wonder if crossing is really