The developer says it would ‘bring much-needed high-quality housing’ to the area but a number of concerns have been raised
The location for the proposed housing development off Barrow Road, Barton-upon-Humber, pictured in 2023(Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford)
A decision on whether to grant permission for almost 200 homes proposed on the edge of Barton-upon-Humber has been deferred because of councillors’ unhappiness with the suggested level of S106 developer contributions to local infrastructure. They requested this is revisited.
Strata Homes applied for the scheme in Autumn 2023, which is tied to the development of the Barton link road. They originally sought permission to build 173 homes on agricultural land off Barrow Road / A1077, near Cornhill Drive, but this has since risen to 196.
The scheme would be accessed via a new roundabout and the link road, which would run through it. Planning approval was granted for the link road in 2024 and a contractor has been appointed by North Lincolnshire Council.
Work on it is expected to start in Spring, and completed in 2027. The link road will be a mile long and connect the A1077 and Caistor Road.
The application was called into the council’s planning committee by Barton Ward Cllr Paul Vickers (Conservative). His father, Cllr Keith Vickers (Conservative – Barton), stated it was to give members of the public the chance to put their views across to the committee.
Nearby residents Paul and Anne Cannell spoke in objection. Ms Cannell said she was only made aware of the proposal in the last week and claimed Danson Close residents received no notification.
“We were given comfort that we wouldn’t feel boxed in by any future development,” she said. She added the properties would completely overlook theirs and raised multiple other concerns too, including site overdevelopment, “a significant increase in traffic congestion” locally, and flood risk for existing properties.
Mr Cannell argued existing properties in the town should be sorted first before major new developments. “We have properties in Barton that are derelict, unused, left to go to rack and ruin. Why aren’t we repurposing those areas?”
Two Strata representatives spoke. Planning manager Katie Milnes stated alongside building new homes, the developer wanted to “create meaningful change” in communities. She highlighted Strata’s partnership with South Yorkshire homeless charity Roundabout, which it raised £100,000 for in 2025.
She said the proposal was “designed to create an active and visually interesting street scene along the link road itself”, and asserted homes had been sensitively designed to respect the site’s surroundings. “Our proposal will bring much-needed high-quality housing to North Lincolnshire,” she said, adding it would provide for 57 jobs during construction and £397,000 in council tax revenue when occupied.
Strata also pointed out the site had been in the council’s draft Local Plan for up to 225 homes, before its withdrawal due to changing Government planning rules and housing requirements in late 2024.
Councillors fume over S106
The committee were sympathetic to concerns raised but focused most attention on the linked S106 contributions. Originally, the scheme was down to potentially provide 39 affordable homes and £2.2m to infrastructure locally, including £1.7m to local education.
But after toing and froing between the developer and the council over financial viability, the possible S106 agreement may now only amount to £490,000 developer contributions, or seven affordable homes. Of the £490,000, £46,000 would go to off-site affordable housing.
“Between 2023 and now, the 106 contribution has drastically been reduced,” said Cllr John Davison (Conservative – Bottesford). “The 106 is a killer for me, I can’t support it.”
“£1.7m in your back pocket, well done,” said Cllr Mick Grant (Labour – Ashby Central) towards the Strata representatives, unhappy with the potential reduced S106 contribution. “This area’s getting to be comical for S106,” he added, during an impassioned speech on developers trying to vary S106 contributions.
It was Cllr Davison who moved for deferral. He felt it ought to be treated in the same way as previous S106 issues and time allowed for a more satisfactory amount to be reached with the developer.