Objectors to Humberston 400-home development will 'never back down'
OBJECTORS to a 400-home development in Humberston have vowed to "never back down" as they begin an "organised opposition" during the consultation period.
As reported, the masterplan of the development in Humberston Avenue – comprising 200 retirement homes, 100 affordable homes and 100 family homes – was submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) for planning permission on Monday, February 13.
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FIELDS FURY: Humberston residents who are opposed to the Humberston Avenue development on the Joseph Ogle field. Picture: Abby Ruston Buy photos at www.thisisphoto sales.co.uk/grimsby or by contacting 08444 060910
NELC validated the application this Monday, beginning a 21-day consultation period to allow people to air their views.
A campaign group called Save Our Fields – which was active in the six-week consultation held by Keystone last summer – has already kicked off a "co-ordinated approach" to opposing the development on green fields owned by the Joseph Ogle Trust.
Spokesman for Save Our Fields Nikki Hale said: "Up until now, we have not had a planning application to work with, but now we do we can be much more organised.
"We are trying to protect the village's identity. This is one of the last remaining green open spaces in the village.
"We care about the place we live and do not want to see it irrevocably ruined for no reason."
The plan met significant opposition when Keystone Developments held a six-week public consultation last summer – after which Keystone altered its plan in line with public objection.
Among the biggest complaints were increased traffic, drainage on the site, the impact on the environment and the affect it would have on the view that current residents enjoy.
Keystone added extra drainage, put bungalows at the front of the site to be less imposing on the view and moved the entrance further from Tollbar Academy but despite these alterations, Mrs Hale said that there is still "a very strong feeling against this proposal within the village".
"They can tinker with it how they like, but the fact remains, there is absolutely no need for housing in this area," she said.
Nick Worboys, assistant director of developments for Longhurst Group, of which Keystone is a subsidiary, said: "Our research shows a clear, and growing, need for high-quality, purpose-built homes for people aged 55 and above, and for affordable homes.
"It also shows that there are no other available, suitable and deliverable sites for this retirement community that could be developed in this way in the immediate timeframe."
She also said that Keystone "listened carefully to local views" when putting the application together, but highlighted that NELC will consider feedback which is "based on the laws of planning".
Save Our Fields now has a legal adviser to help it frame its objections correctly.
Mrs Hale said: "We are not simply saying we don't want it and don't like it – we will be drawing up an information sheet on how to make valid objections based on planning.
"Someone with experience is advising us and we are happy to advise anyone else who objects on how to do so based on planning law, but will not yet disclose the legal basis of our objections."
Not everyone objects to the development. On www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk, people spoke in support of the new homes.
One person claiming to live nearby said: "Affordable housing is great. Its so hard for a young family to get a foot on the housing ladder."
Although, the same person said that it should depend on whether local schools could handle the extra intake.
Another comment criticised the opposers, calling them "backward-looking, self-centred NIMBYs" (Not In My Back Yard).
Humberston Parish Council is expected to be inundated with objectors at 7pm on Tuesday, March 6, at Wendover Hall, Humberston.
To leave your comments on the development, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk, click on planning, and search for the application.
To send your comments by post, write to development management services, Origin 1, Origin Way, Europarc, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN35 9TZ.
Builders submit revised plan for Humberston Avenue 400-homes site
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by gilltillett
Monday, February 27 2012, 11:14PM
“It seems that greedy developers will not be satisfied until the whole of our lovely countryside is turned into a concrete jungle. Do we never learn. Humberston is full of houses for sale and the market is very slow. These new proposed houses are not needed. Our run down Dock area in the centre of Grimsby should be developed into housing on par with London Docklands. This would greatly improve our Town which is slowly decaying. The Council should be concerned about turning Grimsby into a Town where people want to live. The whole of Freeman Street area could be used for housing if a demand does exist. People want to live where work and leisure is available not out in the sticks where it is proposed to stop the buses after about 8pm and none on Sundays.
Hopefully the Council will vote against this Planning Application in Humberston.”
by mikegearless
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 3:03PM
“Longhurst say's "It also shows that there are no other available, suitable and deliverable sites for this retirement community that could be developed in this way in the immediate time-frame." Placing a so called retirement community as far away from the centre of town as is possible and ignoring glaring brown field sites, suggests a profit agenda only.
Well, both Longhurst and the NELC should take a long hard look at brownfield sites in our existing town. What's the point in enlarging the outskirts as the town centre dies. Waste land and old housing stock are decaying into classic slum areas.
Just take Freeman street, this next tranche of investment will go the way of all the other schemes.......the place is an eyesore, lacking decent housing and modern shopping malls that you can park near for free. Get a grip NELC turn brownfield slum areas into modern vibrant inner town "villages." There are massive run down areas in our town already connected to utility services and having defined roads. The hidden mainly below ground investment in rundown areas is worth re-using for modern housing. It is absurd to lay new drainage, sewage, water, gas, electricity, communications, roads, paths, whilst destroying potential growing land able to yield crops to provide food or grazing.
The previous era of vote catching council housing is now displaying the massive failure of social engineering......concentrating certain groups of people in the same area with no inspirational aspiration to move on and up!
The NELC is walking blindfold into enlarging the periphery of our town, using up green fields, whilst allowing the inner town to deteriorate and die. The NELC is allowing the heart of our town to crumble, wasting all the existing infrastructure necessary to support housing. How utterly short sighted and inept.
But as usual there are no doubt council insiders that will allow this scheme to go ahead in complete ignorance of those they are supposed to serve. Our council no longer looks after it's people, they are evermore serving those who don't even live here and are only out for profit.
The people of Humberston are of no significance to the NELC, their only use to the council is to be forced to pay council tax to a council that fails to serve it's own people.....or put another way places people last in any decision!”
by pete6044
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 2:54PM
“What do my mean GYstalker speaking german was that a reference to ww2, were a hand full of
dictators tried to impose there will and there ideas on other people.So what did the poeple do?
They hit back to keep there right to have a voice and for others after them(poeple commenting on the story above).”
by The0racle
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 2:39PM
“It could be just me but I'm sure there are un-finished houses on Scartho top where work has stopped and nothing done on them in months?
There can't be that much demand for houses in the area.
They'll get planning permission, do a bit of work and then stop. Then they will wait for the housing market to improve before building anything significant .
After all they will not be interested in making it affordable they will want maximum profit from the development.
I think anyone who currently looks out their window at open green space would not be happy if they knew they were soon going to be looking at building site. You cant blame them for standing their ground.
However, those people who live the other side of Humberston and will not be affected by it should wind their necks in.”
by GYStalker
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 1:43PM
“Sorry to read most of the comment on this page if everyone in this country had your Attitude were would we be now speaking German .... So Negative just hope i dont need your support”
by lesgrange
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 12:24PM
“i was gonna buy a house in humberstone but i very much doubt it as you all think its the nicest place in town i think i would rather live with people who like to welcome people from out off town you lot need to get a grip there is plenty of green fileds out there what about that dissused GOLF CLUB you can have that as your green place.”
by p_k252
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 12:13PM
“To be honest.
Why is there a need for more houses in this corner of the county.
I don't see a booming town, new work places opening up, I really don't get it.
Unless the developers know something, of which they must have a crystal ball.
Who will buy these houses, OK retirement houses, those I know who retire stay in the homes they live in, Affordable houses I've never seen a new affordable house in my life, Family homes maybe they would sell.
BTW I don't live in Humberston, I just can't see the need for all of these.”
by Dipster2
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 12:07PM
“I wonder if any of those people in the picture owned a field and had the chance to build on it would they say "oh no, I'm going to leave it to nature"......................just a thought!!”
by pete6044
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 11:45AM
“I think alot of the campaigners have far to much time on there hands(you see that alot with the humberston housewifes)The amount of houses is a bit much there are loads for sale around there but are a bit pricey,Again cant see the developer selling theres for much less.There is a part of me that wants to keep the fields not to look at theres nothing there to look at but its somewhere the dirty dog owners can go and stop fouling the paths around here its disgusting,and from people how are a little bit"posh" sod the feilds more interested in getting that sorted”
by notachance
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 11:10AM
“As if you are going to stop them being built......fools”