Around 470 new homes will be built every year in South Holland between now and 2031.
Spalding will see the majority of the development, with 6,000 split between Holland Park and a new site north of the Vernatt’s Drain, towards Pinchbeck, where as many as 3,750 properties could spring up.
The new development would tie in with plans for a new Spalding Western Relief Road, which would provide a link between the B1172 at Spalding Common and the B1356 Spalding Road.
The relief road is seen as “critical” to minimising the impact of a possible increase in level crossing “down” time due to a proposed Rail Freight Interchange at Deeping St Nicholas and upgrade to the existing rail line.
A further 1,300 homes could be built in Holbeach, 400 in Donington, 390 in Crowland, 330 in Long Sutton and 180 in Sutton Bridge.
The major plans for South Holland are all outlined in a new South East Lincolnshire Local Plan – which is the product of two years’ hard work by representatives of South Holland District Council and Boston Borough Council and other groups.
But the vast document, which outlines policies and plans which will shape the future of the area for the next 20 years, is not set in stone.
Everything – from policies on housing growth, development, transport, economy, environment, community, health and well-being – are still “up for grabs”.
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Residents are being urged to have their say on the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan at a series of roving roadshows.
The touring exhibition kicked off last week, taking in Donington and Holbeach in South Holland and Wyberton and Butterwick in Boston Borough.
Yesterday was Pinchbeck and Old Leake’s turn, before the tour moves on to Kirton and Sutton Bridge on Wednesday, Crowland and Swineshead on Friday, Gedney Hill and Sutterton on Monday, May 20, Deeping St Nicholas on Wednesday, May 22 (from 3pm to 9pm) and finally Long Sutton on Friday, May 24.
The exhibitions will be held from 3pm to 7pm except where stated.
There will also be a static display at the district council’s officer in Priory Road until June 28.
South Holland district councillor Howard Johnson, who was involved in the South East Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee which drew up the plan, said: “This is quite possibly one of the most important events for people around South Holland and Boston as it is a plan for the whole area.
“It looks at everything, from housing and shopping to protecting our environment, including sections on wind farms.
“It’s a vast document because it is shaping the future of the area for the next 20 years.
“This sets the ground work for everything – it could be difficult to get planning permission for something in the future if it goes against what’s in the plan – and people need to make sure that what they want in there is in there.
“For instance, we say a third of all housing development should be affordable, but is that right? Is that stopping landowners selling their land or developers from buying it? Should it be a quarter or a fifth?
“It needs to be right and everyone can have their say. We have come up with a document but it is now open for consultation to everyone – literally everything is still up for grabs.”
To see the consultation document go to www.southeastlincslocalplan.org