As part of Conservative-led West Lindsey District Council’s ambitious regeneration plans for Gainsborough, planning permission has now been granted to transform the brownfield site into 135 new homes with associated landscaping and riverside walk.
The £20 million development, which will be delivered by local housing provider Acis, will be built on a riverside setting on Bowling Green Lane, close to the popular Mercer Wood. It will offer residents an innovative mix of various affordable housing types from over 55s accommodation to family homes making it an ‘exemplar’ housing scheme.
The site is one of the previously developed sites which forms part of the Greater Gainsborough Housing Zone designation and bringing it forward for development has been supported by Homes England.
Working closely with the Environment Agency the finished floor levels of the new homes have been raised above the minimum levels to deliver the required flood risk mitigation measures.
Officers will be looking to finalise agreement on the flood risk mitigation for the scheme with the Environment Agency, prior to issuing the decision.
A £2.27 million grant has been awarded by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP) to enable the development.
Ruth Carver, Chief Executive of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is very pleased to be contributing £2.27m towards this important land remediation project which will create a serviced development platform for the delivery of a mixed tenure housing scheme at Bowling Green Road.
“Without the LEP’s intervention at the front end the scheme would not be able to come forward for development.”
The scheme provides much needed, high quality affordable housing to existing and new residents in the town.
Mark Jones, Director of Property Services at Acis, said: “This is another great development for Gainsborough, bringing more quality affordable homes to the town. This is part of our wider ambitious growth plans for the region, delivering safe, attractive neighbourhoods and ultimately better lives for the people of West Lindsey.”
The planning application to transform the brownfield site was unanimously passed by West Lindsey District Council’s planning committee on 8 January.
Work is due to start in March 2020 and the development is expected to be finished by December 2023.
Cllr Ian Fleetwood, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said:
“This investment demonstrates our commitment to housing led economic growth and signals the Governments ongoing support for the regeneration and growth of Gainsborough.
We recognise that housing is key to the success of our communities as well as being of paramount importance to the quality of life, health and wellbeing of residents. Access to safe and affordable housing is the foundation upon which people can build happy and successful lives.”
