‘Our precious and beautiful green space and countryside will be concreted over.’ That’s the view of Conservative Councillor Sam Smith, who represents the Trent Valley ward on Gedling Borough Council and has fought to preseve important greenfields in Stoke Bardolph.
Back in 2022, more than 1,000 people signed a petition to protect Stoke Bardolph’s green belt land, with support from Conservative councillors, Sam Smith and Mike Adams.
Concerns over flooding and the loss of green space were among reasons why the land was removed from the borough council’s local development plan, which identifies sites for future housing.
But now the space is back in the spotlight under a draft new council development plan, with Cllr Sam Smith telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he is “horrified and disgusted”.
The fields, which surround a substation, are located off the A612 Colwick Loop Road and situated at the back of Persimmon Homes’ Bardolph View development in Magenta Way, with the land provisionally again allocated for future housing under Gedling Borough Council’s new draft local plan.
Bardolph View is part of the wider Rivendell development, between Netherfield and Stoke Bardolph, where, in its current form, up to 800 homes are expected to be built.
It’s safe to say Cllr Smith, who is also leader of the opposition on the county council, isn’t happy. “It means our precious and beautiful green space and countryside will be concreted over,” he said.
“The Rivendell site extension was [previously] removed. We’re horrified and disgusted to see it back in this update, and we will work with residents again to fight to see it removed and protected.
“A public consultation on these sites will be triggered by end of July and, once that’s live, we will encourage resident to object to this in a fight to protect our green belt.”
The Labour government’s housing targets has meant a 45 percent increase for the borough which equates to 631 new homes being built a year. The new local plan runs until March 2043.
Also speaking to the LDRS, Cllr Adams said: “I’m really sad for [residents]. The sad thing about planning is there’s no planning law that entitles people to a [picturesque] view – people don’t just buy a house for bricks and mortar, they buy into a way of life.”
The LDRS approached residents living on the Bardolph View estate last Friday (July 4) to share their views on more housing.
One man, who asked not to be named, said: “I’d say no thank you, we’ve got enough [development] around here. [It’s] whether the infrastructure’s there. We’ve got the school [on the estate] and I know it’s hard for people on this estate to get a place at that school anyway.
“We’ve got a kid on the way, I’m worried we’re going to struggle to get them in places.”
Another man said he would oppose development plans, saying the countryside was “one of the main reasons” he bought his house on the estate.
One couple, who also asked not to be named, expressed traffic concerns any potential new through-roads could cause. They said: “[If the land is developed on] the house would be up for sale, we would move, we wouldn’t live here.
“The previous place we lived it was like living next to the M1, the lorries would shake our bedroom – it was terrible. If they decide to open up a main road through [the field] it would be horrific.
“With the retail park you get a lot of [young] racers doing loops up and down so if there was a loop between there and here it might be another race track.”
The area has experienced vast regeneration in recent years, with the new Teal Park industrial estate, housing a mixture of warehouse industrial units and an Aldi supermarket, built next to Bardolph View.
Gedling Borough Council had previously worked with Nottingham City Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, and Rushcliffe Borough Council on a ‘Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan’ that would plan out housing across the south of Nottinghamshire. The council pulled out of this joint plan after the Government changed national planning guidance in December 2024, explaining it could better meet local housing needs this way.
Subject to cabinet approval on July 10, the consultation over the new Gedling local plan runs from Monday, July 21, to Sunday, September 1.
Disgusting. Thank God for Cllr Adams and Smith who champion our cause. Hopefully they’ll get rejected.
You will note the operative words are”draft plan”. After consultation, these area Cllrs Adams and Smith are so annoyed about may still be found unsuitable. I would encourage everybody to take part in the consultation, especially those with local knowledge about the terrain. After that will be the time to object to specific areas if appropriate.
No one was this angry when they bilt on fields in Arnold so I do not feel sorry for them as it is there turn
‘Their turn’ – It’s not a game of Monopoly you turnip
We have lost field so build other places as it is there turn. They can come to Arnold but we will not take all the housing