The South Kesteven Council Planning Committee met on 25 September 2025 to discuss planning applications and related matters. Councillors voted to approve a residential development in Ancaster, an industrial park in Frognall, and a shop front replacement in Grantham. Councillors also endorsed a draft response to the National Grid regarding the Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire Grid Upgrade.

Here's a breakdown of the key topics discussed:

Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire Grid Upgrade

The committee endorsed a draft response to the National Grid regarding the Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire Grid Upgrade consultation. The Assistant Director of Planning & Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, was delegated authority to issue the final response.

During the meeting, councillors and public speakers raised several points:

• The preference for underground pylons to protect ancient woodland.
• Concerns that the wires would be overhead.
• The potential for further development, including solar farms, due to 44 renewable grid connections.
• The impact on the history and heritage of the area.
• The amount of agricultural land that would be taken by the proposal.
• Concerns about health and wellbeing.

The Development Management & Enforcement Manager clarified that there was one substation within South Kesteven, near Corby Glen, but the main concern was the impact of 44 new renewable energy connecting points.

The final response would include a request for further information on the grid connections and their purpose, the repercussions for the area around the Corby Glen substation, the area needed for solar and wind to produce the required wattage, the radius around the substation vulnerable to solar wind applications, evidence for the application boosting the economy and jobs, and the number of pylons required.

The committee also suggested including Neighbourhood Plans in the response, referencing policies related to health and wellbeing, and consulting with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Ministry of Defence on airspace issues.

The committee requested that the final design of any pylons must be carefully considered to minimise their visual and environmental impact, and that National Grid fully explore and transparently assess alternative options, including sensitive routing and the undergrounding of cables, particularly in environmentally or visually sensitive areas.

Land North of Wilsford Lane, Ancaster

The committee voted to grant outline planning permission for a residential development of up to 73 dwellings on land north of Wilsford Lane, Ancaster, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement¹. The application was made by Nightingale Land, with Mr James Stone as the agent.

The application sought outline planning permission with all matters reserved except for access. The proposed vehicular access would be from Wilsford Lane in the form of a new junction. The applicant provided an indicative site layout plan showing 73 dwellings, open space, landscaping, and drainage.

Ancaster Parish Council raised concerns about the impact on the village, the density of the development, the suitability of Wilsford Lane for increased traffic, and parking. Anglian Water objected due to concerns about the capacity of the Ancaster Water Recycling Centre. Lincolnshire County Council requested a S106 contribution towards education provision at Ancaster Primary School. Heritage Lincolnshire recommended a programme of archaeological excavation.

The committee considered the principle of development, the impact on the character of the area, residential amenity, highway issues, drainage, ecology, biodiversity net gain, heritage and archaeology, contamination, and sustainability.

The committee acknowledged that the number of units was significantly more than the indicative unit numbers specified in policy LV-H2 of the South Kesteven Local Plan 2011-2036². However, the submitted indicative layout plan demonstrated that 73 dwellings could be accommodated within the area of the allocation, with the remainder of the site area beyond the allocation being utilised as landscaped areas.

The committee also considered the impact on heritage assets, including the Scheduled Monument of the Ancaster Roman Settlement and the listed building of St Martin's Church. The committee concluded that the proposed development would result in less than substantial harm to the identified heritage assets, but that the benefits of the delivery of a significant amount of dwellings, including affordable units on a site that is in part already allocated for residential development within the local plan allocation, would outweigh the identified less than substantial harm.

Land West Of Doddington Lane, Stubton

The committee voted to grant outline planning permission for up to 4 detached dwellings on land west of Doddington Lane, Stubton, subject to conditions. The application was made by Hilltop Ltd, with Mr Nick Grace of GraceMachin Planning & Property as the agent.

The application sought outline planning permission with all matters reserved except for access. The indicative layout plan showed the dwellings positioned in a cul-de-sac style layout and indicated as single-storey L-shaped dwellings.

Stubton Parish Council raised concerns that the proposed development was not infill, that the red line extended beyond the built form of dwellings opposite, that the criteria listed in SP4 Edge of Settlement had not been met, that the proposed development site failed to satisfy policy SP1, and that the proposals did not correspond with current built form. The parish council also raised concerns over vehicular movements exiting from the site, the lack of pedestrian walkways, and documented problems with localised flooding on Doddington Lane.

The Conservation Officer advised that the area proposed for redevelopment retained very well-preserved Medieval ridge and furrow, and that a Heritage Impact Assessment should be provided to assess the level of impact the proposal would have on the non-designated heritage asset. Heritage Lincolnshire recommended a Scheme of Archaeological Work, including trial trenching.

The committee considered the principle of development, the impact on heritage assets, the character and appearance of the area, neighbours' residential amenities, highway issues, ecology and biodiversity, flood risk and drainage, and climate change.

The committee acknowledged that the development would cause harm to a non-designated heritage asset by way of the loss of the ridge and furrow on site, but that the moderate weight attributed to the housing provision would outweigh the limited weight of the harm to the heritage asset in this instance.

6 High Street, Grantham

The committee voted to authorise the Assistant Director – Planning & Growth to grant planning permission for the replacement of an existing glass shop front with a black painted aluminium frame and glazing at 6 High Street, Grantham, subject to conditions.

Councillor Tim Harrison declared a personal interest in this application and left the chamber during the discussion and vote.

The committee felt the application would be an improvement to the existing building.