THERE is an "excessive need" for affordable housing in North East Lincolnshire, according to experts acting for the developer behind a plan to build 400 homes in Humberston.
Yesterday, the second day of an appeal hearing into Keystone Developments (LG) Ltd's proposal was heard at Grimsby Town Hall.
As reported, the company has appealed against a decision made by local planning councillors to refuse the plan.
The application was met with widespread opposition from residents and councillors, and was twice rejected by North East Lincolnshire's Planning Committee.
After the second refusal in April this year, developer Keystone Developments, part of Longhurst group, lodged an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
This week's hearing is being presided over by Jessica Graham. At its conclusion, a recommendation will be made to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who will make the final decision.
During yesterday's proceedings, Keystone called two experts to give evidence in favour of allowing the application.
Traffic and transport development expert Mr Bennett said the area had good access to local facilities and shops, and easily accessed by public transport.
"The appeal site meets all the inclusive accessibility guidelines," he said.
"Traffic flow varies greatly in this area as it does anywhere, day to day, week to week.
"At the peak hour we have recorded only eight vehicles a minute, which is not particularly busy."
He was cross-examined by barrister Richard Langham, acting for North East Lincolnshire Council, who questioned Mr Bennett's evidence.
The second witness for Keystone was property consultant Mr Bainbridge, who said: "There is an excessive need for affordable housing in North East Lincolnshire.
"The site is sustainable and it will make a substantial addition to the current need for housing."
During the first day of the hearing, senior planning officer Joanne Farrar, acting on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council, said allowing the development would harm the regeneration of Grimsby.
She 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.
In response yesterday, Mr Bainbridge said: "I have not seen any correlation in or evidence that has shown that developing greenfield sites impacts on the development of brownfield sites."
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