60-home highway condition variation at Land South Of Belton Lane, Manthorpe, Grantham

What was proposed

The application sought to allow up to 60 dwellings to be occupied before signalisation works at the A607 and Belton Lane junction were completed.

“Section 73 planning permissions have subsequently been granted for both the outline and reserved matters applications, to remove the Longcliffe Road access from the scheme, and to remove the requirement to provide a noise attenuation bund to the East Coast Mainline. Description of proposal 2.1 The current application is a Section 73 application seeking to vary Condition 13 (off-site highways works) of the implemented outline planning permission (Ref: S24/1297).”

“Council and that the works are programmed to be commenced w/c 2 nd February 2026 and anticipated to take 3-4 months to complete. As such, the current application seeks to vary Condition 13 to allow for up to 60 dwellings to be occupied prior to the completion of the works. The proposed development would remain unchanged in all other respects. Relevant History…”

Officer report

The site

The 37.8-hectare site lies on Grantham’s northern edge beside the Manthorpe estate, railway, A607 and historic village.

“Description of Site 1.1 The application site comprises an area of approximately 37.8 hectares of land situated on the northern edge of the main built-up area of Grantham, adjoining the modern and fairly low density Manthorpe estate to the south and the historic village of Manthorpe to the east. The site is bound to the west by the East Coast Mainline railway, and to the east by the A607 and St. John the Evangelist Church.”

“A public footpath runs east-west across the southern part of the site from the A607 to an underpass beneath the East Coast Mainline. The site is in close proximity to a number of designated heritage assets, including the Grade I Listed Belton House and Registered Park and Garden (Grade II), Bellmount Tower (Grade II*). Manthorpe Conservation Area and various listed buildings within it, are situated to the east of the site.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The parish council objected over congestion and safety at another junction, while the county council raised no highway objection and National Highways had no comments.

“Lincolnshire County Council (Highways & SuDS) 5.2.1 No objections 5.2.2 The supporting Transport Statement shows that the A607/Belton Lane junction will operate within capacity with the additional traffic from the 60 houses. The maximum predicted RFC would be 82% in the AM peak hour. Therefore, the Section 73 to vary condition 13 is acceptable as it would not result in an unacceptable impact on the public highway. National Highways 5.3.1 No comments to make.”

Officer report

Public speaking

The applicant’s planning manager said the highway arrangements had been agreed, works were delayed, and the site had limited occupations.

What members debated

Members questioned the breach, enforcement, responsibility for the works, occupation limits and the evidence behind the revised junction assessment.

“The transport assessment was completed and the application originated to when the Longcliffe Road access was removed from the proposal. The scheme was assessed on the impact on the Belton Lane A607 junction based on 0 occupations, 180 occupations, 330 occupations and 440 occupations. The modelling at that point showed that at zero occupations, the junction would still operate within capacity, but at 180 occupation it would operate at over capacity.”

“Following this assessment, a condition was imposed that prior to any occupation, the junction works must be completed. Without the modelling, Lincolnshire County Council were unable to specify the exact number of occupations that would make the junction over capacity.”

Minutes