Councillors have sent initial plans for 184 homes in Ollerton back to the drawing board following concerns over a single point of access to the new estate.
Telereal (Caledonian) Ltd had been looking to get outline permission to build the homes on land to the west of Newark Road in the village, on a site forming part of the former Ollerton Colliery.
The scheme was discussed at a Newark and Sherwood District Council planning meeting on Thursday (January 15), and officers had recommended it for approval.
However plans were unanimously rejected by all 12 councillors, with primary concerns stemming from a single point of access to the new estate from Newark Road.
Andrea Smithson, who was speaking on behalf of residents living in 14 new homes centering around Lavender Close, said: “We are asking for consideration for a second [access], maybe onto Newton Hill, or Darwin Drive, it would funnel the traffic that is going to head up to the A1, the A614, down towards Tesco roundabout, rather than down Rufford Avenue or Poplar Street which are already extremely congested.
“The was a second entry or exit point on the very initial plans back when our houses were built. With the increase in car ownership and decrease in public transport provision locally a singular access point is not reasonable on safety grounds.”
Cllr Celia Brooks (Lab), who represents Edwinstowe and Clipstone, said she had visited the site and echoed the access concerns.
“For the life of me I could not see why another road couldn’t be put on that would eventually link up with the Tesco roundabout, except that it would cost them more money,” she said.
“The single access is the point that is driving me bonkers to me honest. I cannot for the life of me.”
Other councillors said they feared for how emergency and refuse vehicles would get around the site with only one access point, while a lack of affordable housing provision was also criticised by the chair of the planning committee, Cllr Andy Freeman (Lab).
According to planning documents, the developer said while it will not be able to deliver any affordable housing provision, it had promised financial contributions to the tune of more than £1 million.
Sam Silcox, director at Harris Lamb Planning Consultancy, who spoke on behalf of the developer, had said of the proposals: “The existing layout does not make the best use of the site so the new application creates a new opportunity to secure a scheme that better responds to current housing need.
“The relevant consultees have offered no objection to the proposal.”