Councillors have backed an 'unwanted' social housing scheme in a village north of Grantham, for which a meeting heard there was no need for.

Members of the planning committee of South Kesteven District council reluctantly approved the scheme by a large majority this afternoon, believing they would find a refusal hard to defend at any appeal.

The scheme concerned 16 'affordable' homes that Solihull-based Platform Housing Group sought to build the homes in a field on the edge of Claypole.

Their application was for 2 one-bed homes, 8 two-bed homes and 6 three-ned homes, plus parking for 32 cars, on a 6100m2 site north of Doddington Road.

In its application to South Kesteven District Council, the company argued there was a need for small scale developments of affordable housing in the area, as previously reported by Nub News.

SKDC planning staff had earlier recommended approval of the scheme, saying it would bring much-needed affordable housing to the district, as also reported.

However, Claypole ward councillor Paul Wood (Ind- Viking) said he would oppose the scheme as it was aimed at fulfilling South Kesteven's needs rather than those of Claypole.

The site was also not in the Local Plan for development and the designation of Claypole as a 'small village' meant it was not suitable for 'large developments' like this.

The scheme was also outside the village area and other large housing schemes promised affordable and social housing at Newark and Sherwood, he also said.

Claypole Parish Council chairman John Freeman agreed there was a lack of local support for the scheme and called it 'cynical' of SKDC to "stick homes in a little village where they aren't neeeded."

Dean Revell called it 'callous infill', noting an earlier scheme for 10 social homes, just one house had someone with a local connection.

Planning agent Robert Jays, speaking for the applicant, said the developer had worked with SKDC on the scheme and surved had shown a need for such housing.

Committee members then debated the merits of whether there was a need for such social housing in Claypole.

Coun Penny Milnes (Ind- Loveden Heath) recommended members refuse the scheme, saying it was too large for the small village, and there was a lack of local need.

Coun Milnes also feared the 'social isolation' of the council placing people from Grantham and Stamford into the homes.

After council planning staff raised potential legal issues concerning a refusal, planning officer Phil Jordan added the committee would have to prove there was no local need.

Government policy, members were told, made it hard for councils to oppose social housing schemes for 'exception sites.'

Coun Robert Reid , the cabinet member for housing and property, said he felt the committee was being 'trumped' by government rules concerning such 'exception sites' as happened with a planning application at Morton.

"I honestly feel we wouldn't win the challenge [from the developer]."

However, Coun Milnes added, that with approval for the scheme, "future development was staring us in the face."

Members then voted 7 to 2 in support of the application, which was then approved.