NORTH East Lincolnshire's green spaces are in danger of being swamped by housing, unless the council identifies enough land for future developments.
That was the warning from Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers after the Government overturned the planning committee's decision to reject Keystone Developments' application to build 400 homes in Humberston.
The developer's appeal was upheld by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, after Planning Inspector Richard Watson concluded that the "limited harm" caused by the development "would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme".
Mr Vickers said he strongly disagreed with the Inspector's conclusion that the impact on open green space and the highways network was acceptable, but claimed that the council's failure to identify sufficient land for housing had left him with no option but to approve the scheme.
The Inspector's report states that as the council does not have a five-year supply of housing, its Local Plan could no longer be considered up to date.
The council is currently working on a new local plan to replace the existing plan, which was adopted back in 2003.
And Mr Vickers said: "Ministers are able to overturn recommendations from planning inspectors if they have interpreted any of the planning law or guidance wrongly. Unfortunately this was not the case in this instance.
"What is clear from the report is that North East Lincolnshire Council has failed to identify sufficient housing land and therefore made it impossible for the inspector or minister to intervene.
"It is now urgent that the council get on with this otherwise they will be unable to prevent the area being swamped with housing in unsuitable parts of the borough."
But council leader Chris Shaw said: "We are positive about enabling sustainable development in North East Lincolnshire, and we will continue to work with developers to do that. Mr Vickers' comments show that problems with the planning system are at the national level – not the local. Obligations imposed by central government run contrary to the spirit of localism. We will be positively setting out the future for our borough in our new Local Plan, and I would welcome Mr Vickers' positive contribution through that process."
Jason Longhurst, the council's head of development, said: "Central government requires the council to objectively assess the need for housing in the borough. We also identify available, deliverable and suitable sites to meet that need.
"Our five-year Housing Supply Assessment (available on our website) identifies enough sites to meet our immediate housing needs, but it relies on developers building out schemes which have been permitted.
"The council works closely with developers and landowners to see sites brought forward for development in a managed way. The council is also working on an updated Local Plan which will include allocations of land to meet the identified housing need. The Government placed a strong presumption in favour of sustainable development in the National Planning Policy Framework, and we are bound to make our decisions in line with that."
ON THE WEB: Are you worried that the area's green spaces are going to be swamped by housing? Have your say at www.grimsby telegraph.co.uk
