Independent inspector dismisses planning appeal for 225 homes in order to save over-wintering habitat of curlew

                                        

Curlews - this declining species overwinters in grassland and on mudflats

A PLANNING  inspector has dismissed an appeal for 225 homes to be built on the outskirts of a Grimsby-area village because it is a winter home for up to 30 curlew. 

Housebuilder Cyden Homes appealed to the independent Planning inspectorate after North East Lincolnshire Council last year refused to grant consent for the development on a 10-hectare paddock-quality grassland site at Humberston.

Curlew have historically migrated to the site to escape the harsh winter weather in Finland where they breed. 

By way of mitigation, Cyden pledged to contribute £78,917.00 towards improvements to the nearby Cleethorpes Country Park.

But after a hearing at Grimsby Town Hall, the inspector, Louise Crosby deemed the mitigation offer insufficient and dismissed the appeal.

Her report concludes: "Whilst the proposal would  provide much needed market and affordable housing, the benefits of the scheme do not outweigh the harm to biodiversity -  in particular to the likely significant effects on the Humber Special Protection Area SPA and Site of Special Scientific Interest."

Natural England and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust both objected to the scheme.

In a written statement to the appeal hearing, the former  said: "There has been pressure for development around the estuary for decades.

"This has intensified in recent years. 

"As a result of these development pressures, Natural 

England has become increasingly concerned about loss of habitat.

"This may result in an increase in local bird densities and have consequences for individual bird fitness in terms of increased energy expenditure for flight, competition with other birds for food, and lack of knowledge of foraging resources in other areas which 

might make it more difficult to find food.

"It is important to avoid impacts on curlew, given their conservation status."

 

Nearby villagers had also objected that the proposed development would create enormous pressure on infrastructure, particularly the roads leading to the site.

The curlew field - other birds sometimes to be seen include  barn owls which hunt for voles and other small mammals