Vistry East Midlands gains permission for 75 homes in Ketton, despite earlier council rejection and local concerns.
The project covers 5.52 hectares. Details like layout and landscaping got approved last Tuesday. Committee members voiced concerns but lacked power to alter the scheme’s issues. The parish council had concerns about construction access and traffic. The Planning Inspectorate already approved site access, so they cannot change it now.
Councillor Payne felt the committee missed an opportunity and thinks earlier action could have helped. Justin Jones stated the appeal decision caused this situation. He doesn’t believe the council is at fault. Kevin Corby said appeals have consequences, as developers winning appeals creates this very result.
The project includes 30% affordable housing. It features two one-bedroom homes, fourteen homes with two bedrooms, 27 three-bedroom homes, and 32 four-bedroom homes. The plan includes five bungalows, too.
The council spoke with the developer for months about changes to the project. More homes with period features got discussed, along with the need for increased parking and an improved drainage system. The plan offers 189 parking spaces, with eleven spaces for visitors.
Ketton Parish Council doesn’t want the homes. Nigel Roberts says they have enough houses already. Two recent projects added 71 homes, and 68 homes are still unsold. Many houses have four bedrooms, causing low sales, and this new proposal has many four-bedroom homes.
The village plan wanted one to three-bedroom homes. Another proposal asks for 51 more houses. Roberts asks how roads and schools will manage and warns that construction traffic will cause chaos.
Jack Gandy works for Vistry East Midlands. He stated they considered Park Road for access, but this requires more discussion upfront. The flood authority and highways had no issues and then withdrew after plan changes.