Broxtowe is headed for an economic and cultural boost with various projects hoped and planned to revamp the area.
Broxtowe Borough is Nottinghamshire’s second smallest borough with a population of 110,900 in the 2021 census, followed by Mansfield District at around 110,500 people.
Though smaller, the area is steeped in rich mining history – namely Brinsley Colliery and Moorgreen Colliery – and is the birthplace of world-renowned writer D.H. Lawrence.
The famous poet’s largely-autobiographical novel, Sons and Lovers, refers to a coal mine called Beggarlee, which the historic Brinsley Headstocks stood in for as part of the on-screen retelling of the book in 1960. His father, Arthur, and grandfather, Bert, had worked at the Brinsley pit, which closed in 1934.
Hundreds of new people could be drawn into the area through various new housing schemes already in the pipeline or planned.
The borough is also set to benefit from new job opportunities through a chain expansion and a council-backed initiative.
Speaking on the various schemes in the pipeline across the borough, Broxtowe Borough Council’s leader Milan Radulovic said on Wednesday 8October: “It will look different. Evolution doesn’t stand still just because some people don’t believe in it.
“The council tries to be very much proactive, ensuring we don’t compromise the future generation’s survival.
“We’re constantly looking to improve the environment, clean up rivers, that is the only way we are going to protect future generations – we need to get hold of these issues now.
He added his group, Broxtowe Alliance, “cares deeply about the future because we intend spending the rest of our lives in it”.
Broxtowe’s face is evolving and below are some of the most notable projects currently taking form or being drawn up.
Hundreds of new homes
Up to 4,000 new homes could be built across Toton, Chilwell and the currently operational Chetwynd Barracks site over the next 14 years.
In April 2025, property developer Bloor Homes submitted its outline plans for up to 880 homes to be built on land between A52 Stapleford and Chilwell Lane. Consultation ran on this scheme from July 31 and a decision is yet to be made by Broxtowe Borough Council.
The plans involve a local centre, country park and a new school across 60 acres of land by NET’s Toton Lane Park and Ride, along with a new link road off the A52 which in itself could unlock a separate development of around 1,000 homes.
The currently operational neighbouring Chetwynd Barracks site in Chilwell could be transformed as part of the wider project.
The barracks was due to close in 2024 but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) pushed this back to 2026. The MoD has since announced it has partnered with Homes England to partially release land around the barracks for 1,300 homes.
Up to 420 new homes could be built on land west of Stapleford Lane, Toton, and the scheme’s final decision is due to be made by Broxtowe Borough Council after consultation ran from August 4.
Bloor Homes is behind the scheme and submitted the plans to the council in May 2024. It relates to an 18.96-hectare patch of land previously earmarked for HS2’s Eastern Leg, which was scrapped in 2021.
The housing developer also has a separate application going through the authority’s planning system and awaiting decision for 155 homes on land east of Stapleford Lane, Toton, which was submitted in March 2025. Consultation on this scheme ran from May 7.
The former Eastwood headquarters of renowned Nottingham bike company Raleigh will see 125 homes built on site after fellow property developer Homes by Honey’s £41 million proposal was approved by the council in September.
Speaking on the potential for thousands of new homes, Cllr Radulovic said: “You don’t just buy a house in Broxtowe, you buy a home in Broxtowe. Future generations, future businesses – you put your roots down in Broxtowe for future generations to help them grow and flourish.”
A new country park marking the borough’s rich mining history
A new country park named after world-famous, Eastwood-born writer D.H. Lawrence, is currently planned to connect the D.H Lawrence Birthplace Museum to Colliers Wood Nature Reserve and Brinsley Headstocks Nature Reserve.
Brinsley Headstocks and the grounds around it has been part of a regeneration project over the past year. Broxtowe Borough Council announced in July 2024 it would rebuild the headstocks – it was closed in 2023 after safety concerns were raised by a structural engineer.
Part of the wider revamp of the site includes a wildflower meadow and a memorial orchard to remember the miners who died in the colliery.
The wider country park project would be designed to memorialise the writer and mark the areas that are steeped in mining history.
For a new country park to be made, the land has to be designated to protect it from future housing development – this will happen through an amendment to the council’s local plan and its leader hopes the designation will happen “within the next year”.
New Jobs in the pipeline
Works to build a new McDonald’s near Nottinghamshire’s IKEA is currently ongoing with planning agents claiming the new spot would create 55 full-time jobs and 80 roles in total.
The new restaurant, located next to Pizza Express and Nando’s in the Giltbrook retail park, will expand on the fast-food giant’s network of more than 1,450 UK restaurants and the chain has applied for permission to the council to keep the new location open 24/7. This will be decided by the authority at a later stage.
Further plans to boost small businesses are also taking shape around IKEA through a council-own initiative.
The design work for nine new ‘incubation’ industrial units close to the store is ongoing and it is hoped planning permission will be granted by Autumn 2025. The plans follow works currently taking place on a further five slightly larger industrial units close to the new visitor centre at Bennerley Viaduct.
The incubation units are designed for starter businesses based in manufacturing, construction, assembly and the food sector and will offer employment for up to 50 people.
In August, council leader, Cllr Radulovic, said the venture is to “desperately replace” thousands of jobs lost in the area and to “get ahead of the game” by encouraging businesses using technology and Artificial Intelligence to start up in the borough.
