Firm could lose battle to cut eight homes from Holbeach development

A firm wants to cut eight two-bed homes from a development in Holbeach.

Loosegate Developments wants to modify the agreement for its development in land off Wignals Gate, saying it is no longer viable to deliver it as originally set out.

A decision is due at next week’s district council planning committee meeting - with officers saying the proposal should be turned down.

The council has asked an independent assessor to go through the case set out by Loosegate.

A report for members says the developer could still make a profit from the site, adding: “Put plainly, if a developer’s return turns out to be lower than they originally hoped, this does not mean that a developer can use a viability argument as a means of trying to offset the poor performance of the development (to uplift their profit).

“It would be unreasonable to expect the council to reduce their planning policies simply to give a higher profit to the developer.”