First stage of plan to build 139 homes on Lady Edith's Drive gets go-ahead despite objections

The Grimsby Institute Group, which owns the Yorkshire Coast College site in Lady Edith’s Drive, applied to Scarborough Borough Council for outline planning permission earlier this year for the housing development.

The college, which is now called Scarborough TEC, moved out to the former University of Hull campus in Filey Road in 2017 and the Lady Edith’s Drive site is now almost completely vacant.

In the application, Hodson Architects say the site could house 29 detached homes, 54 semi-detached and 56 townhouses.

The existing entrance to Lady Edith’s Drive would be retained for vehicles and a public open space would be created.

Scarborough Council’s planning committee today approved the plans.

As the plan is for outline permission only a further application will be needed in the future to show the full details of the homes to be built and their specifications.

The committee was told that Newby and Scalby Parish Council and four people have objected to the application.

A late representation had also come from the Save Scarborough District Hospital group, which said the land should be used for flats for doctors or nurses or to expand the neighbouring hospital.

Andy Rollinson, the agent acting for the Grimsby Institute, told the committee that the proceeds raised from the sale of the land for housing would be reinvested in its Filey Road site.

He said that the site had previously been offered to the NHS.

He added: “They said they were not interested.”

Sport England has also objected due to the loss of playing fields if the housing was to be built meaning the decision will have to go to the Secretary of State for final approval.

The committee also heard that due to a national policy called the Vacant Building Credit, any developer that comes forward will not have to provide affordable homes on the site as the work would include the demolition of an existing building.

Cllr Phil Trumper (Con) said the building was an “eyesore” and welcomed the plan.

He said: “We need more housing in the borough and we need to start building them now.”

Cllr Theresa Norton (Lab) said that any developer should still include some affordable homes “as a gesture of goodwill”.

The plans were approved with one abstention from Cllr David Jeffels (Con).