Decision details

To seek approval for the transfer of a section of Land on the East side of Watergate and on the West side of Swinegate, Grantham (16 square meters, shown shaded pink on the plan attached) on terms agreed between the parties to facilitate the construction of 20 new housing units at Swinegate, Grantham.

That approval is granted for the land on the East side of Watergate and on the West side of Swinegate, Grantham (as per the plan) be transferred to National Grid Electricity Distribution (East Midlands) plc for the total sum of £1.00. The transfer is made in consideration of the covenants on the Transferee’s part.

To allow the Swinegate scheme of 20 Affordable Units to proceed.

To seek approval for the transfer of a section of Land on the East side of Watergate and on the West side of Swinegate, Grantham (16 square meters, shown shaded pink on the plan) on terms agreed between the parties.

A summary of the Planning history for the site this relates to is listed below.
Original Planning permission Granted for the scheme Dec 2021(Ref: S21/2094) S73 application approved April 2023 to pick up changes to the scheme (Ref: S23/0780).  A further Non-Material Amendment application to pick up the PV panels and sub-station was approved September 2023 (Ref: S23/1634).

As part of the Swinegate scheme there is a requirement to move the substation, so this land is being transferred to Ntaional Grid to facilitate this move.  National Grid’s legal team are looking at the legal requirements with the Council and Legal Services Lincolnshire.  Lindum (as contractors for the new build scheme) highlighted that the position of the sub-station has moved north slightly, which is reflected in the legal documents.

This transfer of land to National Grid is a disposal at an undervalue and the Council has to follow the correct procedures for disposal under s123.

To ensure that the Council’s decision to transfer this land for no value is not challenged it needs to be satisfied that it has complied with the relevant procedures in its constitution for undervalue transfers and have evidence that it has done so such as a formal sign off under delegated authority following an undervalue report.