A developer has promised hundreds of thousands of pounds in improvements to a village in Nottinghamshire after concerns were raised over its plans for almost 100 homes.
Gedling Borough Council’s planning committee approved a 93-home development on land east of Westhouse Farm, in Moor Road, Bestwood Village, at a meeting on Wednesday (March 25).
They have been tabled by developer Langridge Homes.
To the west of the site is Hawthorne Primary and Nursery School, and 101 homes have already been built in the wider area, following its allocation for housing under a council plan.
“The scheme would provide a wide range of house types from one to five bedroom, the majority of which would be two-storey, along with two bungalows,” planning documents said.
“The majority of properties would be detached or semi-detached, along with a terrace of three two-bed properties.”
Several concerns were raised during the meeting before plans were approved, including a loss of privacy, poor transport links, and the impact on the area’s amenities and facilities.
Cllr Darren Maltby (Con), who represents Bestwood St Albans, raised issue with the potential for flooding, as well as “horrific” traffic, and poor public transport links.
“Bestwood St Albans is increasingly growing, particularly around the village area, we have no pub, no doctors, no dentist, it has got one convenience store,” he said.
“What consideration has been given towards helping getting a few more facilities locally?”
A council planning officer said there was nothing the council could do in terms of the pub, but emphasised there was a significant amount of money pledged for local improvements by the developer; under what’s known as a Section 106 contribution.
He said the development shouldn’t impact the wider flood risk and there has been no objection from the statutory consultees, including the lead flood authority and the Environment Agency.
Eight objections were received by the council, with concerns ranging from Bestwood being turned into a town due to development, and a shortage of frontline health services and other facilities within the village.
A resident of Keepers Close, which borders the site, spoke during the meeting to highlight her concerns over the impact on her street which is comprised mostly of bungalows.
“Most of the residents are elderly, so a five-bedroom detached house at the bottom of the plot is going to constitute a massive invasion of our privacy ”
Councillors imposed an amendment to the plans that requires any windows facing the bungalows on one particular plot, where a five-bedroom house will be built, to be frosted.
The developer’s planned financial contributions were praised.
In total £777,850 will go toward education provision, £3,278 to be used by Nottinghamshire County Council as a contribution towards enhancing library provision at Arnold Library, a primary healthcare contribution of £50,394.37 and £41,400 for bus stop improvements.
There will also be an open space contribution – in the absence of a play area – of £261,607.20, and maintenance contribution of £119,320.00.
In addition, a contribution of £31,400 is sought for the maintenance of the identified local play area.
Of the properties, 28 are planned to be made affordable, including 20 for social rent and eight shared-ownership properties.
Cllr Catherine Pope (Lab) added: “It is actually quite refreshing somebody is coming along and they are actually going to give all of the allocations for a change, and the right amount of social affordable housing.
“That is to be commended.”
