Plans for a major new housing development in a Nottinghamshire village could be given approval next week after being deferred by councillors weeks ago.
Housebuilder Avant Homes applied to Broxtowe Borough Council last summer to build 250 homes at Whitehouse Farm in Shilo Way, Awsworth.
Outline planning permission for the wider scheme has already been granted, with the current and more detailed plans initially discussed on February 1.
However, members of the authority’s planning committee deferred the proposals last month to seek further information on the impact on residential amenities and access for construction vehicles.
The February committee asked the developer to bring forward a construction management plan.
Now the plans are due before the same committee again and have been recommended for approval by council officers for a second time.
The authority says the applicant has submitted amended plans to improve the residential amenity of a neighbouring property.
And a construction management plan has also been submitted indicating construction traffic will access via Shilo Way if the scheme is approved.
However, the developer says a temporary access point for heavy-goods vehicles will also be created via Newtons Lane during parts of construction.
The authority’s planning department believes these added documents are enough to warrant approving the scheme.
The committee will meet on Wednesday, March 8 to discuss the plans, which include a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes.
Twenty per cent – or 50 homes – will be marketed as ‘affordable’ if planning consent is granted next week.
When outline plans were first put forward for the 10-acre site, concerns were raised about the existing Whitehouse Farm building.
This has since been demolished.
But last year, further concerns were raised about how the new development will be integrated into the small Broxtowe village.
Cllr Michael Smith, vice-chair of Awsworth Parish Council, said last summer that the plans have “long been anticipated”.
He said: “There’s no easy way to integrate 250 new homes with the existing village, in particular the housing estate which is on the edge of the site.
“It is difficult and we have our own issues with access.”
A further 47 letters of objection were submitted to the council.
These include concerns over the loss of greenfield land, views and wildlife, the impact on schools, doctors and dentists and highways safety.
Other concerns include traffic, over-development and excessive housing density and the loss of privacy, daylight and sunlight.
However, the authority has on two occasions recommended the scheme should be approved.
“The proposed layout will not give rise to any significant impacts upon the residential amenity of existing neighbouring properties,” the council said.
“The development would provide additional affordable housing in a sustainable location,” it added.
Developer Avant Homes also previously outlined some of the benefits of its plans.
“Specific house types have been positioned at key corners in order to animate the street and address corners effectively,” the housebuilder said.
“Key frontages have been carefully considered to enhance prominent areas and ensure a strong identity is created for the development.”
