More than 100 new homes will be built on a former Derbyshire colliery, despite a plea that the “entire town does not need building over”. At a South Derbyshire District Council meeting last night (Tuesday, January 7), plans from Harworth Group to build 150 houses on the former Cadley Hill Colliery, between Newhall and Swadlincote, were approved.
Councillors raised concerns that the plot of land, to be accessed from Park Road through the newly-built 68 Cameron Homes development, was outside of the settlement boundary and was also a beloved and well-used piece of open space. The 150-home plans do not form part of the council’s masterplan for the Cadley site, which included 600 homes, all of which have now either been built or are under construction through three different agreed plots.
Concern was also raised about money to be set aside for school improvements and mitigation to offset the impact on wildlife. Councillors approved the plans, following a recommendation of approval from planning officers, by a vote of seven in favour, three against and three abstentions.
Harworth’s plan is for the homes to sit south of Fairfield Crescent, Woodview Road and Baslow Green in Newhall, bordering the new golf course and country park – the wider part of the Cadley Park development. Footpath and cycling links would be improved to connect the site to the Avant Homes Cadley Village site, which makes up the lion’s share of housing on the former colliery at 400 homes, accessed from William Nadin Way.
The proposed plans would fill in a gap between two housing developments and bring housing right up to the boundary of the golf course
(Image: Pegasus Group)
Initial plans for a road connection from the 150-home development through to Ruby Way on the Cadley Village estate were scrapped following public consultation and concerns it would create a “rat run”. Eleanor Rawsthorne, on behalf of Harworth, said the developer had worked closely with the council for “many years” on the site and that it was adjacent to the settlement boundary and bordered by housing on three sides.
She said the project would “make a significant contribution to market and affordable housing in South Derbyshire”, along with more than £1 million in financial support to offset the site’s impact. Of the 150 planned houses, 45 would be classed as affordable housing, including eight apartments and eight bungalows, a council report details.
Cllr Kalila Storey said she was “really struggling” with the application because it is outside the Swadlincote settlement boundary and the council could already prove it has earmarked enough land for future housing. She said she was pleased to see the “rat run” to Ruby Way scrapped from the plan.
Cllr Storey said she was concerned at the loss of habitat for birds, including protected skylarks, and said speeding continued to be an issue off Park Road. Cllr Jayne Davies said there was not enough of an improvement for biodiversity space, with the land already representing beneficial open land as it currently stands.
She said: “What is the point in the Local Plan if we are building outside the settlement boundary?” Cllr Amy Wheelton said: “We are significantly above the five-year housing need and we are building to help Derby’s unmet housing need.
“The skylark is a red list species and they can only nest within 300 metres of where they are foraging, so get rid of foraging land and they are gone. The entire of Swadlincote does not need building over.
“£10,000 to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is all they have done to mitigate losing habitat for all these birds.” Cllr David Muller said: “We are obviously all concerned about biodiversity, but it is near a very large golf course so I am content. It could go to appeal if we turn it down.”
District council officers suggest £710,173.80 is given for primary school improvements and up to £118,526.25 for SEN provision across South Derbyshire. Objections had also been raised by Derbyshire County Council’s public rights of way officer and the Open Spaces Society due to the loss of green space and the plan to move the footpath alongside the main road through the new site.
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