Derelict buildings to make way for homes

At an East Lindsey planning meeting, councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing the demolition of derelict buildings at 1 Hamerton Lane to make way for a residential development of 10 dwellings - two blocks of four houses and one pair of semi-detached houses.

The decision on Thursday came after the project’s agent, Andy Hey, described the 0.2-hectare site as ‘a longstanding eyesore comprising some of the nastiest buildings in Horncastle’.

He continued: “This scheme will bring much-needed improvement.”

Committee chairman Coun Neil Cooper said he was experiencing some ‘angst’ about the highway safety of the access to the site, but felt the benefits of redevelopment would ‘outweigh the disbenefits’.

He went on: “These buildings are dreadful, but they won’t come down if there is nothing to replace them.”

The committee noted that the application was being opposed on road safety grounds by Lincolnshire Highways - a concern heeded by Coun Jim Swanson, who warned of difficulties for motorists turning right into Hamerton Lane, an unadopted road, from the main A158 road, with the potential for traffic hold- ups near traffic lights at the junction with the A153.

However, members delegated officers the responsibility for introducing appropriate mitigation measures.

The successful applicant is Mrs J. Perkins.