Proposed Housing and Mixed-Use Site Allocations

Comment

Representation ID: 4499

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Bloor Homes

Agent: Cerda Planning

It is positive to see the Council’s pro-active approach to re-visit the Reg 18 plan in seeking to meet the full local housing need as a result to changes in the NPPF 2024.

The current emerging Plan indicates that there is a need of 886dpa, equating to 17,720. Using the Standard Method calculation, the figure is 894dpa, and therefore the requirement over the plan period should be increased by 160, to a total of 17,880.

Advises that the Council extend the plan period by one or two years to anticipate delays in adopting the Local Plan. This would also result in an increase in the housing requirement by 894 units for one year, resulting in a total of 18,744 or 1,788 for two years to a total of 19,668.

Given the trend in housing delivery at the current rate, and reliance on a small number of large sites, it is suggested that a 20% buffer should be applied.

There is an over reliance on large strategic sites to deliver majority of the homes during the plan period; with particular concerns in relation to timescales for delivery of the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks and Spitalgate Heath, and a lack of detail on the Council’s detailed housing trajectory.

Grantham is viewed to be the sub-regional centre, with a view to accommodate most of the growth. Phase 2, Somerby Hill should be included in the proposed allocations as it available and deliverable in the short-term, as well as sustainably located.

Comment

Representation ID: 4500

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Bloor Homes

Agent: Cerda Planning

Despite the uncertainties of deliverability, the Council have allocated this site, albeit with a reduced number of units. The allocation equates to a significant amount of the identified housing need, despite little justification or evidence provided that this site would be suitable for development.

Comment

Representation ID: 4501

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Bloor Homes

Agent: Cerda Planning

The Draft Plan is unable to shed any light on lead-in times and Guide Build Out Rates due to the scale of the development. There have been some estimates provided; however, there is a concern that these may not provide a true reflection of the realistic build out rates. The Spitalgate Heath planning application was submitted in 2014, it has been over a decade with no decision for the Outline application. Consideration for the timescales for the detailed Reserved Matters applications alongside delivery of infrastructure etc. must also be factored in, and it is unclear at present how this is being considered by the Council.

Comment

Representation ID: 4502

Received: 28/08/2025

Respondent: Bloor Homes

Agent: Cerda Planning

Whilst we support growth across all settlements to meet the identified housing need for South Kesteven. It should be considered that any lower settlements in the hierarchy should not be prioritised for housing allocations over Grantham.

South Kesteven should proposed an additional allocate of this site – SKPR-238 Phase 2, Somerby Hill Grantham, which is suitable, deliverable, and immediately available. There is an opportunity in Grantham to accommodate more growth and deliver more houses, particularly if the trajectory of some larger sites in Grantham are overestimated.

Request the full extent of the Phase 2 site be considered moving forwards as part of the Local Plan preparation.