Despite flood concerns, 21 homes have been approved to replace a former police station in Cleethorpes.
Members of North East Lincolnshire Council have performed a complete 180 as they’ve approved plans for 21 new homes on the site of an old police station in Prices Road, Cleethorpes.
The police station has been empty since Humberside Police moved out five years ago, after serving there for almost 90 years.
Originally the local authority recommended refusal after the Environment Agency raised flood-risk concerns and locals petitioned against the plans, which were proposed by Paul Bannister of Land Developers (Lincs) Ltd.
Cllr Hayden Dawkins questioned the flooding concerns given the station is situated on a hill. He said: ‘It’s a typical situation where the Environment Agency goes against every development in Grimsby and Cleethorpes because we’re in a flood zone.’
Though objector Helen Lanfranchi, who represented residents that petitioned against the scheme, emphasised the area has seen some pretty bad flood cases, particularly in summer 2021. She reported that water ‘frequently’ pooled in the area and ‘remained for over three months with an infestation of flies with, understandably, a horrendous smell.’
What’s more, Helen added that flooding issues have been impacting local properties ‘for decades’ and, in severe cases, have led to ‘temporary homelessness’.
However, it’s been decided the plans will progress, as councillors approved it by 5-2 votes on the grounds of regeneration of a brownfield site and that sufficient attempts had been made to resolve the flood-risk issues.
Going forward, it is understood that the police station will be converted into 10 flats, and 11 houses will be constructed on the former car park, though a date for completion on the project is yet to be announced.
Photo by Guilherme Cunha
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