Campaigner asks council why villagers at Grain not consulted on developer's plan changes

In early 2024 the developer Esquire applied for planning permission to build 34 homes at Grain Village. The application proposed included a new pedestrian footpath connection and pedestrian crossing on Grain Road at the rear of the development. Vehicle access was planned from the existing Edinburgh Road. 

Grain High Street is across the road from where the development is located, where the co-op, the main shop in the village, the pub, and a road to the beachfront and parks can be accessed. Additionally, bee and insect habitat planting were also included in the plans. 

On 4th November the council's planning committee approved the development with the pedestrian footpath link to Grain Road and the crossing stating that the plans ‘were acceptable.’

However, on 28 November, Esquire submitted a new application to remove the pedestrian footpath connection and planting from the front of the development. Esquire submitted this as a ‘non-material amendment’ to allow developers to change some parts of their plans without going through the full planning process. The developer has pulled back on its agreed obligations and backtracked on some of the infrastructure as part of the new housing scheme and the council could have rejected the amendment under the 'non-material' proposal if it had wanted . 

Local Liberal Democrats campaigner, Alan Wells, said "Work has already begun on the 34 ‘housing’ development but the lack of a footpath to link with the new crossing will mean it will take longer for the new residents of the development to access to the shops, as well as the loss of the planting of rich biodiversity flora as originally agreed. These verges could have provided a habitat valuable for bees and other insects. 

The council approved the application on 5 December, allowing no time for any objections to the change. The concerns of the villagers at Grain have not been considered and I am asking the council why it did not allow residents to voice their opinions to Esquire reneging on their original infrastructure plans. "

ENDS