The Planning and Regulation Committee of Lincolnshire Council met on Monday 09 March 2026. The committee considered a sand and gravel extraction application at Thetford House Farm, Baston, recommending conditional planning permission be granted subject to a Section 106 agreement and conditions. The committee also considered an increase in the throughput capacity at the Lincolnshire Energy from Waste Facility in North Hykeham, recommending conditional planning permission be granted subject to a deed of variation on the unilateral undertaking. Several recommendations were made to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport regarding traffic regulation orders and speed limit reductions across the county.

Thetford House Farm, Baston: Sand and Gravel Extraction Recommended for Approval

The committee recommended that conditional planning permission be granted for sand and gravel extraction at Thetford House Farm, Baston, submitted by CEMEX UK Operations Limited, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement. This decision, made after a site visit and extensive debate, allows for the extraction of approximately 2.4 million tonnes of sand and gravel over 8-10 years, with restoration to agriculture, recreation, and nature conservation. A new access from the A15 will be created, and the existing farm access will be closed.

The recommendation was made subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement, which will include restrictions on HGV routes through local villages, measures to ensure the permanent closure of the existing farm access, a 30-year habitat management and monitoring plan, a programme of ditch maintenance, and the establishment of a community liaison group. Numerous conditions were also attached to the permission, covering aspects such as construction management, noise and dust control, and restoration.

The application had faced significant opposition from local residents, parish councils, and the local division councillor, Councillor Ashley Baxter, who raised concerns about highway safety on the A15, traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, loss of agricultural land, and potential impacts on local wildlife and designated conservation sites. Objectors highlighted the already hazardous nature of the A15 and expressed fears that the additional HGV traffic would lead to an increase in accidents.

CEMEX, the applicant, argued that the extraction was necessary to meet a critical shortfall in sand and gravel supply in South Lincolnshire, with the existing West Deeping site nearing exhaustion. They presented evidence that the proposed access onto the A15 had passed road safety audits and that air quality and noise levels would be within acceptable limits. The company also highlighted the economic benefits, including job retention and the farm's ongoing viability.

During the debate, councillors discussed the highway safety concerns extensively, with a compromise suggested and agreed upon to restrict the number of HGVs waiting to turn right into the site to a maximum of three at any one time. Conditions were also discussed regarding timings for vehicles leaving the site during peak hours, with the final decision left to officers in consultation with local members.

Lincolnshire Energy from Waste Facility, North Hykeham: Throughput Increase Recommended for Approval

The committee recommended approval for a variation to condition 21 of the planning permission for the Lincolnshire Energy from Waste (EfW) facility, allowing an increase in the annual throughput capacity from 170,000 tonnes to 190,000 tonnes per annum. FCC Environment (Lincolnshire) Limited, the applicant, stated that the facility already had the technical capability to handle this increased volume, which would help address a shortfall in energy recovery capacity for local authority collected waste and contribute to renewable energy generation.

The increase is expected to generate an additional four two-way HGV movements per weekday, a 4% annual increase, which was deemed negligible and well within acceptable limits by the applicant's assessments. No objections were received from statutory consultees or local councils. The decision was subject to a Deed of Variation on the Unilateral Undertaking to carry over existing routing restrictions.

Traffic Regulation Orders and Speed Limit Reductions Recommended Across the County

Several traffic-related items were discussed and recommendations were made to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport:

• Alford, A1104 West Street: Amendments to waiting restrictions were recommended for approval, including the revocation of a limited waiting bay and an extension of the waiting time in remaining bays from 30 minutes to one hour. This was to improve traffic flow on a main route through the town.
• Bourne, Westbourne Park: Proposed waiting restrictions around Bourne Westfield Primary Academy were deferred to a future meeting due to further work required on the report.
• Lincoln, Glenwood Grove: A proposal for 'No Waiting at Any Time' restrictions at the junction with Boultham Park Road was recommended for approval. This aims to prevent obstruction to traffic flow and improve visibility for vehicles exiting Glenwood Grove and for pedestrians.
• Lincoln, Sincil Street: Extensions to one-way and prohibition of driving orders, along with 'No Loading and No Waiting at Any Time' restrictions, were recommended for approval. This aims to reduce conflict between vehicles and the high volume of pedestrians using the area between the bus and train stations and the shopping area.
• New Bolingbroke, B1183 Main Road: A recommendation was made to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport to approve a 30mph speed limit. This decision was made despite an objection from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, which argued that a 40mph limit would be more appropriate based on recent speed survey data. The committee noted that the 30mph limit was considered a borderline case and that enforcement of a 30mph limit might be challenging.
• Spalding and Weston Hills, Low Fulney, Weston Hills Road and Austendyke Road: A recommendation was made to the Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport to approve proposed speed limit reductions, introducing a 40mph limit on sections of the B1165 and a 30mph limit in Weston Hills. This followed speed surveys indicating mean speeds that met the criteria for these reductions, with one section considered a borderline case for a 40mph limit.

The meeting also included the formal approval of minutes from the previous meeting and notes from a site visit. Councillor Thomas Neith, Chairman of the Committee, declared a personal non-pecuniary interest in item 6.6, Spalding and Western Hills, due to his role as South Holland District Councillor for the ward, and stated he would leave the chamber for that item. Several councillors declared they were unable to attend the site visit for item 5.1 and would therefore abstain from voting. Councillor James Bean declared an interest in item 6.3, Lincoln, Glenwood Grove, due to being the Division Councillor for North Wolds. Councillor Alan Woodruff declared an interest in item 6.4, Lincoln, Sincil Street, as the Division Councillor for Eagle & Hykeham West. Councillor Thomas Neith also declared a personal non-pecuniary interest in item 6.6, Spalding and Western Hills, as the District Councillor for Moulton, Western, and Cubitt Ward, and stated he would leave the chamber for that item.