104 affordable homes could be built in an Ashfield village after plans were submitted to the district council – but concerns have been raised over access and former mines.
Applicant MyPad submitted proposals to Ashfield District Council last Tuesday (29th October) for up to 104 affordable homes to be built on farmland off Mill Lane in Huthwaite.
The former Greenwood Falls Farm building and boarded-up farmhouse currently exist on the site.
The application only covers outline proposals, meaning a more detailed plan would be submitted at a later stage if these plans are approved.
The homes would be located in the western half of the land, with connecting open space to the east.
The site would be accessed from an entrance off Mill Lane to the west.
Nottinghamshire County Council, as the highway authority, has said it would not support the development due to concerns over the single access point to the site on Mill Lane.
It says this route already serves 335 homes.
But in papers, developers said that – while a second point of access cannot be created – it wouldn’t “cause congestion or road safety problems” as the roads already benefit from low capacity.
A section of Mill Lane would be upgraded, and there would be no detrimental impact on pedestrian or cycle routes, the applicant added.
Initial plans say the majority of homes would be two-storey, with some single-storey homes near the entrance of the site.
A swale pond would be located in the southwest corner to help with the development’s drainage and biodiversity.
The Coal Authority objected to the proposals today (4th November), saying records show coal mining features and hazards present on the application site.
Probable “shallow coal mine workings” have been identified, with its response stating: “Voids and broken/disturbed ground associated with such workings can pose a risk of ground instability and may give rise to the emission of mine gases.”
The potential new homes would neighbour existing residential sites to the southwest and east of the development.
If approved, the scheme would bring 100 per cent affordable homes into the area through a registered provider, which is supported in principle by the council’s housing team to meet the area’s housing needs.
In response to the pre-application submission, the District Council could not show a four-year supply of housing sites and failed the Housing Delivery Test.
The application will be decided at a later date.
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