Plans for a major redevelopment in Grantham town centre are moving forward.

South Kesteven District Council has completed a public consultation for its proposals for Swinegate and council planning staff are now working on submitting a formal planning application.

The council says this is due to be submitted in the next few weeks.

SKDC seeks to build 24 homes one and two-bedroom flats for those on the SKDC housing register who most urgently need a home.

As part of consultation last autumn by the council, people voiced opinions on parking, building materials, the effect on green space and the potential social effect of a development for Swinegate. Comments on the impact of building work were also recorded.

A summary can be read here.

The proposal forms part of SKDC's Housing Strategy which requires 128 properties to be built in central Grantham. It would also free up larger properties from council house stock to ensure more residents have a home that suits their needs.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Cllr Robert Reid, said: "We were pleased to hold such a wide informal consultation before this reached the planning application stage as it's good to hear people's views and act on them where we can.

"The application is likely to include amendments based on this feedback as well as a justification and explanation of some of the original proposals, which will show the range of options we considered before reaching our final design for submission.

"There were, for example, a number of queries relating to traffic exiting on to Swinegate and, following further consultation with Lincolnshire County Council, we are including a Watergate exit as part of our proposal."

The council invited comment from the public, business, heritage and conservation organisations and other stakeholders, including St Wulfram's Church. Interested parties will again have the chance to comment when a planning application is submitted.

The application will be finalised by the council's housing department in the next few weeks, before being considered by SKDC's Planning Committee.

Planning Committee is a public event where people can arrange to speak for or against particular applications to inform the decision made by councillors on the day. Because of Covid-19, the meetings are being held remotely and participants take part via Skype.

There is an online guide on how to submit comments here: http://bit.ly/SKplanning

The 700sqm site is at the northern end of Swinegate, next to Watergate carpark and close to Brook Street.

There are residential properties to the north and east with a mixture of commercial and residential to the south and west, while on the immediate southern boundary is Watergate car park.

Anyone unable to access the planning information online can obtain all details by contacting the SKDC development team on 01476 406080 or [email protected]