Developers of a scheme that plans to build 600 new homes and a doctors’ surgery in Spilsby are looking for the views of the local community.
Plans for the proposed Spila Fields development, on a 35-hectare site to the east of Spilsby, are due to be submitted to East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) at the end of October 2020. If approved by the District Council the work will start on the development in the first half of 2021.
The development will stretch along the eastern boundary of Spilsby between Ashby Road to the north and Halton Road to the south, creating 600 homes of different sizes and tenures.
“We are really excited about this scheme and believe it will be transformative both in terms of economic benefits and for people living locally,” said Stuart Robinson, of developers Gin Property (Spilsby) Limited (GPSL).
“We feel that this is an ideal time to help create an economic boost for Spilsby and East Lindsey. The area’s businesses, amenities, and retail outlets need support to thrive and grow.
“And while Spila Fields has been designed with local people in mind, we also recognise the importance of attracting people from outside to choose to live and work in this lovely area and to contribute to its future success.”
The development will also include a new doctors’ surgery which, according to the East Lindsey Local Plan, will enable them to reach more people and offer wider services.
The future development of the town has been in the focus recently with Spilsby Town Council undertaking a local consultation – which was not specifically about this development – which it has been reviewing, and is awaiting a meeting with East Lindsey District Council to discuss it further.
The Town Council, which has no planning powers, has stated it may release a statement once it has had the opportunity to discuss the latest updates.
The developers’ consultation runs from the 14th of October until the 23rd of October, with members of the public encouraged to leave their views on the development website.
Plans are to be submitted to East Lindsey District Council, in their role as the local planning authority, for a decision to be made.
What do you think about the plans? Let us know below.
Nice to see the plans on paper at last. can we all be advised how the Towns Infrastructure will cope? Supermarkets Schools etc. Seems a lot of houses to exist with the Town as it is now.
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Great, Spilsby needs to grow and it will also let the local shops etc have some much needed custom.
I have been a resident of Spilsby for 71 years and sadly have seen its gradual decline. I feel a large development like this would be a final nail in Spilsby’s coffin.
It would be taking away, which in my view, is Spilsby’s best asset, which is the attractive surrounding countryside approaches and walks.
Why do people choose to live here? Because it is a small market town surrounded by countryside, take that away, and what are you left with?
I live on Halton Road and walk the footpath, (which will be affected by the development), every day to Halton. It is a beautiful right of way across farmland, with uninterrupted views towards the Wolds to the North and the Fens to the South. The wildlife is outstanding, with badgers, foxes, roe deer, muntjac deer, lots of birds, including the endangered skylark, yellowhammer, linnet, yellow wagtail, buzzard, and kestrel to name just a few. Yesterday, 17th July, I counted 10 different species of butterflies along the path edge, not to mention numerous bees and other insects. All this will be gone, if this development is allowed to go ahead.
My other major concern is the extra traffic it will create on Halton Road, which is already, very busy and dangerous, due mostly to the extra traffic created by the large Lady Jane development built some years ago. It just would not be feasible to expect it to cope with all the extra traffic a development of that size would create.
Also, what does Spilsby have to offer in terms of employment, shops, education and recreation?
STC should concentrate on improving the town for the existing residents. Shops have been allowed to remain empty for years and the town has a very neglected look about it these days, with lots of litter everywhere, and why have the old cinema and Jackson Shipley sites not being built on?
I also think that it is disgraceful that Spilsby’s oldest and finest building has been allowed to fall into disrepair, namely, the King Edward VI grammar school, founded in 1550. It would have made an ideal visitors centre and small museum, ideally set near our parish church.
I am not against the development of Spilsby, but it must be done in a sympathetic way, with a few small selective building sites. A huge development like the one proposed would certainly not be right for the town and I am sure most Spilsby residents would agree!
No sign of any planning application on ELDC website yet?