Over 2,000 residents have objected, but only seven Conservative Councillors will decide whether 3,500 new homes will be built in the Freshney Valley, and Independent Councillor Lyndsey Downes says she feels bureaucratic “procedure” is being put before democracy.
In her view, the thousands of objections have been ignored as part of a “deliberate attempt to delay a democratic process to allow the Freshney Valley to be built without challenge.“
The all-Conservative group Cabinet members who will decide the fate of the Grimsby West development are: Leader of the Council – Councillor Philip Jackson, Councillor Shreeve, Councillor Cracknell, Councillor Dawkins, Councillor Harness, Councillor Shephard, Councillor Swinburn and Councillor Hudson.
“The developer has had to submit a masterplan for approval by the council; the only body that needs to approve that is the cabinet,” Councillor Downes explained, adding that in her view the group behind the final decision should be listening to the voices of the residents who will be affected most.
At a recent scrutiny meeting, councillors opposing the plans urged that the matter be debated at full council, but the request was rejected. However, it was agreed that the masterplan in its current state should be returned to the developer for more details regarding flood risk and transport assessment.
Councillor Downes and the other Independents feel this process is undemocratic, considering the strength of public feeling on the issue. She argued that any decisions regarding developments of this size should be subject to a vote at full council.
Proposals for the scheme were initially published as part of Local Plan back in 2018 – outlining details on where and what housing should be built. Councillor Downes believes these are now outdated, stating that in her view the Cabinet has “deliberately delayed the plan’s update to allow the Grimsby West development to proceed without considering local voters’ opinions.”
Councillor Downes explained that she had encouraged members of the Save the Freshney Valley group to engage with the Local Plan, resulting in thousands of objections. For her, this was a clear message that the majority of residents did not want the development to go ahead. But she said “not one of those residents has ever received feedback. Those 2000 consultation results should have counted towards a review of the Local Plan.”
The controversial debate comes as Labour pushes to raise the local housing target to 600 homes per year, despite North East Lincolnshire’s population remaining stable. This proposal has drawn cross-party agreement that it is unsuitable for the area.
By extension, Councillor Downes says the plan to build 3,500 homes on the prized countryside of the Freshney Valley lacks logic, arguing that not only does the area not need that many homes, but they are the wrong type of homes. She said the last full council meeting demonstrated the need for social housing, not the expensive housing intended by the developer.
The unfairness to voters was highlighted for Councillor Downes when the developers were allowed to speak at the recent scrutiny meeting, but residents were not permitted to do so.
Concluding, Councillor Downes urged residents who are not in favour of the plans not to give up. She said: “If you were one of 2,000 people who had their say and feel like their say was ignored, then email Councillor Stewart Swinburn and ask him what’s happened to your response, or email the planning team at the council. If they don’t reply, then let me know.”
Roy Horobin
Joined the Gi Grimsby News team in 2025.