Plans for 40 'affordable' homes on the edge of Billingborough are recommended for approval by planning chiefs, when councillors determine the matter next week.

The planning committee of South Kesteven District Council will be meeting 'virtually' on Tuesday (May 12) to consider the application concerning the site of the former Aveland School to the south-west of the village, which has been cleared for development.

South Kesteven District Council granted outline planning permission to Billingborough Homes Ltd for around 35 homes for the site in 2016, with the scheme now coming back with 40 homes at the 'reserved matters' stage.

If approved there would be 16 one-bed semis, 18 two-bed semis, two detached bungalows and a block of four maisonettes on a 1.31 ha site.

This has been referred to the planning committee because the former district councillor for the area Mike King had concerns over the type and design of the houses and he believed it was also a variation from the local plan.

A planning officers' report said Billingborough Parish council did not object to the scheme but had concerns over the density of the housing proposed and it containing so many affordable homes, believing there was not a local need for so many.

Public consultation also revealed nearby residents saying Billingborough has experienced too much development recently, there was no need for so many small homes and its residents would place too much pressure of facilities like the doctors' surgery.

However, planners recommend approval for the scheme, saying the increase of five homes in the scheme was "well within the limits of what could reasonably be described as low density."

The two-storey homes, they concluded, would be "well integrated with the existing built-up area whilst creating a well landscaped place with its own identity."