ALLOWING 400 new homes in Humberston would harm the regeneration of Grimsby, a senior planning officer told the first day of an appeal hearing.
Joanne Farrar said North East Lincolnshire has ample brownfield sites, such as the former Bird's Eye factory site, in Ladysmith Road, which have planning permission for homes.
Proposals to build 88 homes on the site have been brought forward and included in the council's latest development figures.
She spoke in support of the decision by North East Lincolnshire planning councillors decision to refuse the 400 homes off Humberston Avenue.
Developers Keystone Developments (LG) Ltd have appealed against the planners' decision and took their application to an appeal.
The first of a four-day hearing began at Grimsby Town Hall yesterday.
Although a planning inspector is presiding over the appeal, the decision on whether the homes can be built will be made by the Secretary of State for Communities, Eric Pickles.
New Government rules mean he has the final say on developments of more than 150 homes.
Ms Farrar said there is already housing land available in Grimsby and development of another greenfield site instead of a brownfield site would undermine the council's strategy to develop the area's many brownfield sites.
Updating council figures, Ms Farrar said the first 88 homes in Ladysmith Road could be built within five years on the site, which has a capacity for 177 homes.
In addition, 32 homes are due to be built in Waterworks Street Immingham and 75 homes in Macaulay Lane, Grimsby, which has a capacity for 250 homes.
Ms Farrar said: "By developing on greenfield sites it will have a negative impact on the regeneration of Grimsby.
"It has suffered significantly because of the crash of 2007. These sites have planning permission. But they have not come forward yet because of viability."
She added such development is "particularly important" in an area such as Grimsby.
"Leaving them empty is causing harm," she added. "It will reduce investment in the area and that is not sustainable."
However, Ms Farrar said the council could not demonstrate it had a sufficient five-year supply of affordable housing.
Planning inspector Jessica Graham said that would be one of the key tests for the appeal.
She said the impact of hundreds more cars on the highways in the area from the new homes would also impact on the result.
She added the reliance upon cars to get to and from shops would also influence the decision.
For Keystone , Ian Dove QC said council planning officers had recommended approval but councillors refused the application.
There is a shortfall in available housing land supply, he said, adding: "The council has recognised that there is a need to identify greenfield sites to meet the five-year land supply and the appeal site is a suitable and appropriate opportunity for doing so."
Proposed road improvements would mitigate the impact of many more cars, he claimed.
"The benefits of the scheme in providing housing and in particular affordable housing are clearly substantial and the appropriate outcome of the appeal is that the site should be permitted to address the requirements for both homes and in particular homes for older persons and also those who are unable, through their own socio-economic circumstances, to meet their own housing requirements," he said.
The appeal hearing continues.
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