THIS plot of land owned by a former British motorsport champion at the centre of a Cleethorpes planning row is up for sale.
After finally securing planning permission for the demolition of 24 lock-up garages in Bradford Avenue owner Roger Burnett has put the land on the market for £300,000 – £100,000 less than he paid for it six years ago.
It is 200 square metres in size and comes with planning permission to build four three-storey town houses – approved by North East Lincolnshire Council in 2011.
Neighbours – including owners of the Tudor Terrace Guest House – opposed the plans but are not concerned about the sale.
Owner Maria Ross, said: "The plot is worth a lot of money but who can afford it? I don't see the situation going anywhere.
"It was always going to be a dodgy site to sell or get planning permission on, for one thing it is in a conservation area."
The plans for the four-bedroom town houses replaced original ideas for a four-storey apartment block with 11 flats, which was refused permission by the secretary of state twice.
Mr Burnett, who owns Laceby Manor Golf Club, bought the garages for £400,000 in 2007 and upped the peppercorn rent of each garage from £3 a week to £15 a week – leading to all but five of the tenants giving up their garages.
He has rarely spoken directly to the Grimsby Telegraph about the plans, designed by Ulceby firm Kier Architecture Ltd, who refused to comment on the sale. Maria continued: "The garages are a bit of an eyesore, but I am not sure what would look nicer. I suppose if it gets sold and they start to build, that will cause disruption with noise and dust.
"The planned houses are still three-storey and our houses are not. Saying that, they are great big four-bedroom houses which would be lovely for a family."
Clark Weightman are marketing the site. Director Andrew Clark said: "The general idea is this will appeal to high-end individuals who don't necessarily want to live in Cleethorpes full time, but who want or need a property in the resort. So far, we have had a reasonable amount of interest."
