Rutland County Council approve Quarry Farm development on border of Rutland and Stamford leaving campaigners devastated

Stamford: The fight to save a cherished nature reserve has come to a sad end. Campaigners were left heartbroken as the Quarry Farm housing development got the green light.

Rutland County Council’s planning committee approved the plan for 650 homes on Quarry Farm, right on the edge of Stamford. This project is part of a larger development that includes another 1,350 houses already approved by South Kesteven District Council.

Before the meeting, locals gathered to chant “Save Quarry Farm,” but their pleas fell on deaf ears. The planning committee, made up of ten members, decided the benefits of the homes outweighed the concerns.

During the two-hour meeting, councillors raised worries about increased traffic and the strain on local services, especially healthcare. But in the end, Tim Smith from the Lib Dems reluctantly pushed the proposal forward, and it passed with seven votes in favor.

The development will include a 35-hectare country park and a center with shops and a health facility, although they haven’t secured a healthcare provider yet. The developer will also contribute to infrastructure costs, but the exact amounts are still up in the air.

Interestingly, this project isn’t part of the current local plan but is included in the upcoming one. The planning officers mentioned that the council didn’t have a ten-year housing supply, which made it tough to reject the application.

After the decision, Georgina McCrae from Allison Homes expressed her satisfaction, saying they worked closely with local councils and communities to develop the plans. She emphasized that Quarry Farm would help meet local housing needs while also providing a country park for wildlife and recreation.

However, campaigners like Carys Vaughan were devastated. She shared her feelings of loss, saying they fought for three years to protect the site. Another resident, Bob Matthew, voiced concerns that Stamford would bear the brunt of the development while Rutland County Council would reap the financial benefits.

With the new homes, the council expects to see an increase in council tax revenue, which is crucial given the financial struggles many councils face. Several parish councils had raised objections, worried about the impact on traffic in nearby villages.

Councillor Karen Payne pointed out dangerous junctions, while others echoed concerns about the lack of collaboration between planning authorities. Stamford Town Councillor Barry Devereux highlighted that the town is growing rapidly, fearing it could become overwhelmed by its own success.

Laura Upson, another campaigner, expressed disappointment that the committee backed the plan, feeling the system was broken and that they had no real alternatives.