The Boston Borough Council Planning Committee met to discuss a planning application for land north of the Boston Borough Council Depot. Councillors approved the application, which involves demolishing an industrial shed and changing the land use to provide additional staff parking, commercial parking bays, and trailer bays, with associated works. The committee made revisions to conditions relating to archaeological investigations and surface water disposal, in light of the fact that some work had already commenced on the site.

Boston Borough Council Depot expansion

Councillors approved planning application B 25 0287 for the demolition of an existing industrial shed and a change of use of land to provide additional parking and storage facilities for the Boston Borough Council Depot on St Johns Road. The plans include additional staff car parking, 10 commercial parking bays, 4 trailer bays, resurfacing, installing lighting columns and acoustic fencing, and creating new access routes connecting the site to the existing depot.

The Senior Planning Officer, presented the application, noting that conditions 3 and 6 needed revision because the building had already been demolished before the committee considered the application.

Several councillors sought clarification on various aspects of the proposal:

• Lighting impact: Concerns about the impact of the proposed lighting on nearby residential properties were raised. The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that the lighting columns would be six metres high and downward-facing, and that Environmental Health had raised no objections.
• Noise from bin storage: Councillors were concerned about potential noise from storing bins on the site. The Senior Planning Officer clarified that only clean bins would be stored there temporarily before being distributed to the community, and that the acoustic fence would mitigate any noise pollution.
• Archaeological significance: Councillors discussed the archaeological significance of the site, given its proximity to historic areas of Boston, including the Boston Conservation Area, and the potential for underlying remains. The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that a condition had been included requiring a written scheme of archaeological investigation before any below-ground works.

Councillor Anton Dani moved to approve the application in line with officer recommendations, and Councillor Andy Izard seconded.

The committee voted to approve the application, subject to the conditions outlined in the planning officer's report, including revisions and clarifications made during the meeting regarding lighting, noise mitigation, archaeological investigation, and operating hours.

The revised conditions are:

• Condition 3: No below-ground works can take place until a written scheme of archaeological investigation has been submitted to, and approved by, the local planning authority.
• Condition 6: Before any groundworks, full details of the means of surface water disposal must be submitted to, and approved by, the local planning authority.

Other business

The committee approved the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2025.