A Nettleham housing project has been expanded by nearly 30 homes, despite councillors’ annoyance with the slow pace. The 80-home estate on Cricketers’ Walk, which is currently under construction, will now include 107 homes.
Councillors at West Lindsey District Council’s planning committee claimed there had been more than 30 changes to the original plans, which were first approved in 2017. Applicant Truelove Property & Construction Ltd said at the time it only wanted to build 68 properties.
Councillor Tom Smith (Con) said: “I don’t have a particular issue with this change – my frustration is with the whole build-out. It was approved in 2017, and here we are in 2025, where only some of the work has been done.
“Frankly, that many amendments must be a nightmare for residents to keep up with. The government should give developers start and finish times. That’s why houses aren’t being built.
“We grant permission, but it’s developers who build houses – that’s where the blockage is. We’re being blamed for their ineptitude.”
Ongoing development on the Cricketers’ Walk development on Nettleham
(Image: Lincolnshire Live)
The site is part of a wider development being built on Cricketer’s Way, on the northern edge of Nettleham. Councillor Angela White, the chair of Nettleham Parish Council, told the committee: “We are quite concerned about the increase from 68 homes to 107.
“There are far more homes being built than in the [local housing plan], adding pressures on the medical centre, traffic and schools in particular. There is also frequent flooding on the outskirts, which we’ve seen this week, and sewerage coming up through the drains.”
Councillor John Barrett (Con), who represents Nettleham, said: “The homes are of high standard and the estate has been well kept. However there have been something like 39 different amendments, which can be very confusing.”
The developer wasn’t at the planning meeting to respond, but previously said in planning documents: “The scheme demonstrates an exceptionally high design quality borne out of rigorous design development”. The application was approved unanimously.
Nettleham residents recently told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they didn’t want any more houses without extra infrastructure.
They called for roundabouts to ease pressure on busy junctions, and lower-cost affordable housing.