The proposed expansion of a Nottinghamshire town by hundreds of homes could help boost struggling shops and businesses, the area’s council leader has said, despite fears about a lack of infrastructure.
Arnold, Gedling Borough’s largest town, could expand by almost 300 homes with the potential approval of two new large housing estates looming.
Gedling Borough Council’s planning committee is due to decide on 288 new homes across two separate planning applications, though no formal dates by the authority have been given at this stage.
The authority’s leader says he believes the town will cope with the extra homes, while others believe there should be more “caution” over expanding the town if services are not there to support it.
The largest, for a full application for 172 properties to be built on land of Killisick Lane, was lodged to the authority by Bellway Homes back in September 2025.
They could be built on two empty patches of land on either side of Killisick Lane, which plans say essentially ‘wrap around’ the previously approved Strata Homes off the lane. The land sits just below the existing mineral and waste operations at Dorket Head Brick Works.
Bellway says 34 of the homes would be affordable, including 12 two-beds and 22 three-bed homes, with the remaining 138 homes comprising of 62 three-beds, 57 four-beds and 19 five-beds. Access to the site would come from the bend of Killisick Road and Howbeck Road.
Over to the west, Langridge Homes’ scheme for 116 homes at Lodge Farm, including one, two, three, four and five-bed open market homes, was put forward to the council in April 2026.
Farmland at the site off Mansfield Road, Redhill, could be used for the homes, which appear on plans to be split into two, with 52 homes in the west, with access from Mansfield Road, and 64 properties in the east with access from Hadston Drive, with green space separating the two sides.
Gedling’s council leader, John Clarke (Lab), said: “These two sites, it’d be a boost to the local economy because shops are struggling. I was just in Chesterfield [in Derbyshire] and I was looking at empty shop after empty shop.
“I don’t want it to be too cramped, but figures have been given to use by the government and have been significantly increased – around 11,000 homes now until 2040.
“That’s a lot of houses, a lot of room to find. I’d challenge those people shouting against [housing developments] because what would you do?”
Councillor Clarke said he is “confident” Arnold could cope with the potential expansion of the two developments if the national funding from government is there to help with it.
He added: “It would significantly boost the local economy. That’s what we desperately need, to secure us jobs, it adds improvements to schools, a knock on [effect] for health and police [services].
“If we’re going to be an active part in a new unitary authority we need towns like Arnold that need to be flourishing – but a bit of caution on it, don’t rush it.”
Nottinghamshire County Councillor, John Semens (Ref), who represents Arnold North on the authority, said he would like to see more “caution” with approving large developments.
He said: “I would like a little more caution when granting planning consent for major developments because I do not believe Arnold has sufficient infrastructure and services to fully cater for the population it has currently.
“I would [developer contributions] to be really focused on improving things for schools, increasing the capacity, and health centres.”
Cllr Semens said he was “concerned” with the “speed” in which Arnold is growing with.
He said: “You only have to look at Calverton and the speed it’s growing. That’s [like] a very large town now – when I worked at Calverton Pit it was a village… the problem with development is once it starts it keeps going.”
“Around 290 homes could quite easily be another 500 cars and, depending on family arrangements, could be another 500 kids who are going to need a school, that’s the problem… the capacity should be there before the families are there, but that’s not always practical.”
The authority is currently aiming to progress with its Ambition Arnold project, which would see Arnold Leisure Centre and Bonington Theatre transformed into newer, modern facilities.
It would involve the older, uninspiring units in Front Street, including the former Working Men’s Club and empty units between it and the Blue Monkey pub being knocked down in the wider revamp.
The council’s ‘preferred’ option is to create a new open public square off Front Street, with a new leisure centre, arts venue, library and community garden off of it.
Further details on this project would be given at a later date.
yes this is just the news we all wanted to here. the bigger that arnold is then the better it will be. it is our capital our london and the shops will stay open and more atractons will be added for torists who come to our town. very proud
What utter rubbish and tripe you speak Arnold Lad. I was hoping we’d seen the back of you, but obviously now. The negatives around loss of the ANOTHER green space and the pressure on local resources far outway the supposed benefits to tourism (are there any?!) I am not sure who is more deluded and living ina fantasy land, you or Mr Clarke.