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Tesco put housing site on the market
For sale: The Tesco site, off Lincoln Road, Horncastle, which could become a major new housing development. Photo: John Aron.
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is trying to sell its Lincoln Road site for a major housing development, the News can reveal.
It is the latest twist to a dramatic saga which saw Tesco’s battle to build a new store off Lincoln Road rejected by planners at East Lindsey District Council 12 months ago.
The three-acre site is currently being marketed by a Lincoln-based firm of chartered surveyors.
They claim the land has the capacity for between 40 and 45 houses, subject to planning permission.
The company, Hodgson Elkington LLP, would only confirm they were being instructed by a “blue chip client”.
Sources have confirmed to the News that Tesco’s are looking to off-load the entire site, which is currently derelict and is regularly targeted by vandals.
Residents living close to the area gave a cautious welcome to the housing plans but admitted they were concerned about a number of factors including:
l The danger of flooding.
l Poor access.
l Increased traffic.
l Noise and air pollution during construction.
l The value of their own properties.
Tony Tempest, who lives within 200 yards of the site, said: “My first reaction is that anything has got to be better than Tesco’s.
“I work shifts so if the supermarket had gone ahead, I’d have been chewing the manager’s ear every day about noise.
“I’ve still got a lot of concerns. We’ve got kids and I’d be worried about their safety, with the increased volume of traffic.
“Flooding would be another big worry. The town is already struggling to cope and even more houses would only add to the problems.”
Husband-and-wife Michael and Sarah Helliwell, who live opposite the proposed development, also expressed concerns.
Mr Helliwell said: “It’s a big piece of land so I suppose something was always going to happen to it.
“The extra traffic is a worry. It’s busy enough as at is and it can take ages getting out onto the main road.
“Flooding is another issue, especially after all the recent problems. I’m not so sure whether there is a need for any more houses in Horncastle. They are struggling to sell them now.”
Ken Vasey, who lives on Lincoln Road, said: “I thought we’d heard the last of this when Tesco’s didn’t get permission.
“I wish they’d leave it alone and set up a nature reserve, or something like that. Something needs doing because kids are a problem. They wrecked the old bus depot ages ago but it doesn’t stop them coming up here being a nuisance.”
Tesco’s were not available for comment.
Hodgkinson Elkington LLP are also marketing a separate site off Thimbleby Hill which already has planning approval for six large detached houses.
In addition, developers recently revealed proposals for 129 new homes off Mareham Road. That scheme has sparked fears about flooding, traffic congestion and extra pressure on services,
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Weather for Horncastle
Tuesday 21 May 2013
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Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
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