'We don't need a small town built here'

Campaigners fighting plans to build up to 3,500 new homes on countryside near Grimsby say it will affect a "rare" chalk stream and put too much pressure on local roads and services.

More than 1,600 people have commented during a public consultation on the Grimsby West estate, which would be built near Great Coates, between the A46 and the A1136.

Steve Holland, a member of North East Lincolnshire Council, said there was "huge local strength of feeling" against "a small town being built".

However, developer Grimsby West LLP said the project would deliver "much needed" new housing and improve transport links.

The estate would include two community hubs, schools and a country park.

Holland is one of a number of independent members of the council whose opposition to Grimsby West is at the heart of their political platform.

"We don't need all this new big housing. We need housing that's more suitable for young people, affordable," he said.

"All it's going to do is add huge congestion to our local roads, and people are worried whether the local services will cope."

His colleague Lyndsey Downes said she was concerned about the prospect of a flyover being built over the River Freshney and described the arguments against the development as "common sense".

"As well as the chalk stream, we've also got blow wells, which are even rarer. For me, this is an area we should not be thinking about building on," she added.

The government wants to build 1.5 million new homes across England by 2029 to deal with what it describes as a housing crisis.

North East Lincolnshire has a government-set target of building 622 homes a year.

But Holland said there were opportunities to reuse empty properties in Grimsby and build housing on brownfield sites in the town centre.

Grimsby West LLP said it had held detailed discussions with the council since early 2024, as well as holding a public consultation and workshops with other stakeholders.

A spokesperson said there would be a range of housing types, while better transport links would include the construction of a link road between the A1136 and the A46 into the north of Grimsby and Immingham.

The estate would also include 72 hectares (about 175 acres) of "dedicated open spaces", including a country park, sports pitches and floodwater storage areas.

The deadline for comments is 8 March.

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