Plans which will see Lincoln benefit from a Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) of 3,200 new homes with improved infrastructure and the creation of thousands of new jobs have moved a step closer to becoming reality.

Revised and additional documents relating to the Western Growth Corridor have been submitted to the city’s planning authority.

Lindum Western Growth Community Limited is working alongside City of Lincoln Council to bring forward the development on land between Skellingthorpe Road and Tritton Road.

The plans include 3,200 new homes (20 per cent of which would be affordable), 20 hectares of commercial/employment space, a new Leisure Village, green space and flood mitigation improvements.

The development area is one of four sustainable urban extensions (SUE) areas allocated in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

If approved, it would provide a welcome boost to the local jobs market and lift to the local economy as it continues to get back on its feet following the impact of Covid-19.

The revised documents take into account the specific and detailed consultation responses from a range of organisations including Lincolnshire County Council, the Internal Drainage Board and the views of local residents.

Following the submission of the original planning documents by the applicants and landowners – City of Lincoln Council and Lindum Western Growth Community Limited – in April 2019, a new transport strategy for the city was released by the County Council. The strategy, which was approved by county councillors in April this year, has a much greater emphasis on traffic movement around the city.

As a result, the revised plans now give even greater priority to sustainable travel both in the proposed new community and in the wider south Lincoln area. In addition, following detailed analysis of traffic movement in the Skellingthorpe Road area, the revisions include proposals to help ease traffic flow in surrounding communities.

The updated information submitted to the planning authority is now available on the planning portal. It includes a raft of new documents, including a new air quality assessment, development concept plan, drainage strategy plan, development masterplan and phasing plans, including housing delivery schedule, detailed phase 1A and 1B design drawings, Photomontages from key view points, planning statement, transport assessment and a new transportation Chapter of the Environmental Statement (Chapter 11)

Project Planning Director Mark Foster said Lindum and CoLC had worked closely with Highways Officers at Lincolnshire County Council to ensure the plans reflect the Lincoln Transport Strategy.

“The amendments include a revised masterplan giving further priority to more sustainable modes of travel, with new, specific bus priority routes being provided through the majority of the site,” he said.

“It also includes off-site improvements to other junctions in the city, delivered as part of the initial phases, such as installing traffic lights at the junction of Doddington Road and Birchwood Avenue and improving the junction of Doddington Road and Tritton Road to help mitigate the limited transport impacts of the scheme.

“These would improve traffic flow in the wider area by giving drivers a viable alternative route to access the A46 and prevent additional congestion on Skellingthorpe Road, particularly in the first phases prior to the full link road being delivered.

“We have listened closely to comments raised and we are confident that the updated proposals mitigate the transport impacts of the scheme, as well as maximise sustainable transport opportunities for proposed residents of the development.

“Importantly, the revisions also demonstrate our commitment to the delivery of the scheme despite the current economic uncertainty.”

It is estimated that, using normal household expenditure rates, the site as a whole would generate up to £22 million per year spend in the local Lincoln economy.

Meanwhile, construction of the development will create an average of 500 jobs per year, with work to commence in 2021. It is estimated that around 3,600 new jobs will be created in the commercial area and leisure village.

Kate Ellis, Director of Major Developments at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Lindum and the city council are both committed to reducing the impact of climate change and helping Lincoln achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

“This scheme will assist significantly in helping us achieve this and demonstrate how growth and new development can play its part in improving the resilience and sustainability of Lincoln.

“This development will form an essential part of the city’s economic recovery from Covid-19 and provide the additional homes and jobs that are much needed in the city.”

“The Local Planning Authority will now consult with the public and statutory consultees on the revised information. Once the consultation is complete, it is anticipated that the planning application will go before a special planning committee, made up of the full council, later this year.”