A major housing scheme for 480 homes on the edge of Grantham has received the final go-ahead after councillors today approved the design details.

As Nub News reported yesterday, the planning committee was recommended to approve the reserved matters of the scheme on land north of Longcliffe Road.

Members voted overwhelmingly voted to approve the scheme, with just Rosemary Kaberry-Brown (Con- Peascliffe and Ridgeway) voting against, citing a lack of bungalows and raising the issue of traffic that the scheme would generate.

Coun Ray Wootten (Con-Grantham St Wulfram's), gave a similar warning about traffic.

Coun Wootten is not a member of the committee but spoke on behalf of nearby residents as their local councillor.

He recalled how nearly 1000 residents in the area had opposed the scheme from Larkfleet homes, with them raising traffic concerns along the A607 and elsewhere. Residents also feared loss of privacy from the development.

Coun Wootten said motorists would use Longcliffe Road to get to Great Gonerby and the "only good thing" about the scheme was an improved design in the later plans, with them now featuring tree-lined avenues and a square.

But Coun Ian Stokes (Con- Peascliffe and Ridgeway) said the design of the estate was "Very samey" and "very poor." He also noted a lack of bungalows in the scheme.

The agent for the developer Mark Mann said traffic matters had been considered and accepted by a planning inspector, who approved the scheme at appeal, after South Kesteven District Council had earlier rejected the application.

He told the meeting this morning the wider development would feature affordable homes, a local centre, plus much green space including 16ha of parkland and 3ha of recreation areas.

The scheme did not include bungalows but other Larkfleet developments do. Bungalows are relatively costly, he said, and had they been included in the scheme, there might not be enough revenue generated to pay for the Section 106 agreement, which includes money for better schools and health facilities.

In the debate the followed, Coun Helen Crawford (Con-Bourne West) praised the design, saying it was one of the best she had seen, and thanked council planning staff for working with Larkfleet to bring it about.

Ian Selby (Unaligned- Harrowby) then raised traffic concerns, adding the development would also impact Grantham hospital and other health services in town.

Then, after Coun Kaberry-Brown warned the scheme's residents would find it easier to work in Newark than Grantham, due to the congestion it would further create on the A607, members voted, many reluctantly, to approve the scheme