Conservative-led West Lindsey District Council is looking to make the best of Gainsborough's riverside location as part of plans to redevelop the town.
Proposals are being brought forward by the council's officers for an area of land on Carr Lane, that they hope will be granted an outline planning permission to allow redevelopment for housing and establishment of a riverside linear park. The site is mostly vacant and has been disused for a number of years.
The Council would seek to accommodate this plan through establishing a simplified planning regime, known as a Local Development Order. Lea Road School, recently acquired by the council, has been specifically excluded from the Local Development Order boundary to ensure it is excluded from demolition. A separate project has started to investigate the feasibility of converting the former school building into residential use.
The Homes and Communities Agency is working closely with the Council to help remove barriers that prevent schemes from moving forward. Eve Fawcett-Moralee, Strategic Lead for Economic Development and Neighbourhood Development at the council said:
“We want to take this opportunity to capitalise on our riverside location and bring quality development into the town.
“We will work with developers and the government to deliver a range of new housing, making the most of the riverside location, focussing on 13 housing Zone sites between Gainsborough, Lea and Morton.
“We are also continuing to work with Lincolnshire County Council to establish the viability of delivering a marina for the town on adjacent land.”
The idea will be considered at the Prosperous Communities Committee on Tuesday, 2nd February and at the Planning Committee on the Wednesday, 10th February. If it is accepted then the council will invite the public comment on the proposals for 28 days, commencing Monday, 15th February 2016.
As previously revealed, the council was selected as one of the Governments first flagship Housing Zones. It is intended to encourage the speedy redevelopment of former previously developed sites known as brownfield land. It is hoped it will be a catalyst to help regenerate Gainsborough, bringing with it 750 new homes.
The Council also secured the ‘Local Development Order Incentive’, specifically designed to incentivise the delivery of housing on brownfield land using the Local Development Order mechanism. For more details on Gainsborough’s Housing Zone and this Riverside Gateway Local Development Order: www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/housingzone.