The Planning and Regulation Committee of Lincolnshire County Council met on Monday, 9 March 2026, to discuss several planning applications and traffic regulation matters. Key decisions included the conditional approval of a significant sand and gravel extraction project at Thetford House Farm, Baston, and the variation of a condition for the Lincolnshire Energy from Waste Facility in North Hykeham to increase its waste throughput. The committee also considered various proposed waiting restrictions and speed limit changes across the county.

County Matter Applications

Sand and Gravel Extraction at Thetford House Farm, Baston

The committee granted conditional planning permission for sand and gravel extraction at Thetford House Farm, Baston, proposed by Cemex UK Operations Ltd. This decision followed a deferred consideration from a previous meeting, which included a site visit to the location. The application, S23/1978, sought permission for extraction with restoration to agriculture, recreation, and nature conservation, the creation of new public footpaths, and the erection of associated plant and infrastructure, including a new access from the A15.

The decision was made subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement, which will secure several measures. These include restrictions on Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) using specific local roads, details for the permanent closure of the existing Thetford Farm access onto the A15, the provision of fees for monitoring a Habitats Management and Monitoring Plan, a programme of ditch maintenance, and the establishment of a community liaison group.

Numerous objections were received from local residents and parish councils, primarily concerning highway safety on the A15, increased traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, loss of agricultural land, and potential impacts on local wildlife and designated conservation sites. Concerns were also raised about the objectivity of Cemex's technical submissions and the cumulative impact of development in the area.

However, the report highlighted that the need for aggregate reserves in South Lincolnshire is significant, with current landbanks falling below the recommended seven years. The proposed site is within an area of search and intended to replace the Cemex quarry at West Deeping, which is nearing exhaustion. Environmental assessments indicated that with the proposed mitigation measures, including a clay seal and recharge trench to protect water resources, and a robust dust and noise management plan, the development would not have unacceptable adverse impacts. Historic England withdrew its objection after the applicant agreed to construct a bridge over the Carr Dyke Roman canal. Natural England and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust also withdrew their objections after further information on mitigation measures for hydrological impacts and protected species was provided.

The decision to grant permission was made with great weight given to the proven need for mineral reserves and the proposed mitigation measures to address environmental and amenity concerns. The loss of approximately 36.29 hectares of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land was acknowledged as significant, but this was balanced against the economic benefits of mineral extraction and the substantial biodiversity net gain proposed in the restoration plan.

Variation to Throughput Capacity at Lincolnshire Energy from Waste Facility, North Hykeham

The committee approved a variation to condition 21 of planning permission N43/0582/15 for the Lincolnshire Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility, located at Paving Way, North Hykeham. The variation, sought by FCC Environment (Lincolnshire) Limited, will increase the annual throughput capacity from 170,000 tonnes per annum to 190,000 tonnes per annum, with the additional waste being from municipal sources.

The application was brought before the committee as it constituted Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development. The applicant argued that the increased throughput would allow the facility to operate at its optimal capacity, enhancing renewable energy generation and facilitating the treatment of a greater volume of municipal waste higher up the waste hierarchy.

The need for increased waste management capacity in Lincolnshire was supported by various local and national policy documents, including the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan and the Lincolnshire Waste Strategy. Technical assessments within the Environmental Statement indicated that the proposed increase would result in negligible impacts on air quality, climate change resilience, and greenhouse gas emissions, with a net carbon benefit compared to the baseline scenario. Traffic assessments also concluded that the projected increase in HGV movements (an average of approximately two additional one-way trips per weekday) would be well within the capacity of the local road network and below the thresholds for further detailed environmental assessment.

The decision was made subject to a Deed of Variation on the existing Unilateral Undertaking to carry over the vehicle routing restrictions. No objections were received from statutory consultees, including North Kesteven District Council's Environmental Health department and the Environment Agency, who noted that the facility is regulated by an Environmental Permit.

Traffic Items

The committee considered several proposed traffic regulation orders across the county.

Alford, A1104 West Street – Proposed Amendments to Waiting Restrictions

The committee noted the report and recommended to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport that the proposed Traffic Regulation Order for Alford's West Street be approved. The proposal aims to replace a section of limited waiting bay with 24-hour restrictions on the north side of the road to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly for larger vehicles. Additionally, the permitted waiting time in the remaining limited waiting bays was proposed to be extended from 30 minutes to one hour to support local businesses and residents. Two objections were received, arguing that the proposals would not address the root causes of congestion, such as illegal parking and loading/unloading during busy periods, and would negatively impact businesses and residents without off-street parking. However, the report concluded that the measures were necessary to facilitate unobstructed traffic flow on this main route.

Bourne, Westbourne Park – Proposed Waiting Restrictions

The committee noted the report and recommended to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport that the proposed Traffic Regulation Order for Bourne's Westbourne Park be approved. The proposals aim to address concerns raised by Bourne Westfield Primary Academy School and its nursery regarding on-street parking obstructing visibility for pedestrians and traffic. The scheme targets restrictions to areas identified as most beneficial for maintaining traffic flow and pedestrian safety, particularly at junctions. Six objections were received, expressing concerns about the effectiveness of enforcement, the extent and duration of proposed restrictions, and the general reduction in on-street parking. The report stated that the criteria for a permit parking scheme were not met and that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) funding was unavailable.

Lincoln, Glenwood Grove – Proposed No Waiting at Any Time

The committee noted the report and recommended to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport that the proposed Traffic Regulation Order for Lincoln's Glenwood Grove be approved. The proposal introduces 24-hour waiting restrictions at the junction of Glenwood Grove and Boultham Park Road to prevent obstruction to traffic flow and visibility for vehicles exiting the cul-de-sac. One objection was received, citing concerns about exacerbating limited on-street parking for residents, many of whom are elderly or disabled, and the impact of parking by visitors to a nearby football ground. The report concluded that the restrictions were necessary to maintain unobstructed vehicular access and improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.

Lincoln, Sincil Street – Proposed Extensions to One Way and Prohibition of Driving Orders, and No Loading & No Waiting at Any Time

The committee noted the report and recommended to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport that the proposed Traffic Regulation Order for Lincoln's Sincil Street be approved. The proposals aim to extend existing one-way and prohibition of driving orders southwards to the junction with St Mary's Street. This is intended to control traffic access, improve pedestrian safety in an area designed for high pedestrian volumes between the train and bus stations, and facilitate planned improvements to the area's amenity. Two objections were received from residents who believed that continued vehicle access was necessary for loading/unloading and passenger drop-offs/pick-ups, arguing that low vehicle speeds posed minimal safety risks. The report clarified that St Mary's Street remains available for passenger drop-offs and pick-ups, and that the proposed restrictions would reduce the potential for conflict between vehicles and pedestrians.

New Bolingbroke, B1183 Main Road – Proposed 30mph Speed Limit

The committee noted the report and made a recommendation to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport regarding the proposed 30mph speed limit on Main Road, New Bolingbroke. The proposal was brought forward based on the council's speed limit policy criteria for a borderline case. However, the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) objected, presenting data from their own speed surveys that indicated higher average speeds than those used to justify the 30mph limit. The LRSP argued that a 40mph limit would be more appropriate, citing national guidance and suggesting that a 30mph limit might create a speeding issue where one does not currently exist, without sufficient enforcement or traffic calming measures. The committee was asked to recommend whether the proposed order should be approved, modified, or withdrawn.

Spalding and Weston Hills, Low Fulney, Weston Hills Road and Austendyke Road – Proposed Speed Limit Reductions

The committee noted the report and recommended to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport that the proposal to commence the statutory process for a Speed Limit Order to introduce a 40mph and 30mph speed limit on sections of road in Spalding and Weston Hills be approved. The proposal is based on speed survey data indicating mean speeds that meet the criteria for speed limit reductions, with one section identified as a borderline case. The Police have raised no concerns regarding the proposed reductions, although they noted that enforcement of the proposed 40mph limit might be unlikely. The report indicated that two reported injury accidents had occurred on the relevant section of road in the last five years.