Plans for 90 new homes on farmland close to a Nottinghamshire village have been approved by the local council.
Ashfield District Council’s planning committee met on Wednesday, 19 March, and gave the go-ahead for the residential development.
Under the plans, 90 new homes will be built on Radfords Farm, located along Dawgates Lane on the edge of Sutton-in-Ashfield, near the village of Skegby.
Developer GMJ Ventures Ltd submitted the planning application in October 2024, with proposals to turn the 4.4 hectares of farmland into housing.
This application was previously presented to Ashfield District Council’s planning committee in February 2025.
The council initially refused the plan, stating that the development would cause “significant harm” to the character of the area, along with traffic concerns.
Documents state: “The proposed development would result in significant harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area through the visual impact of the built form on green fields and the further encroachment of development into the open countryside.”
Citing traffic concerns, the document adds: “The adjacent highway network is incapable of accommodating any additional significant volumes of traffic without substantial improvements.
“Additional points of access into the site are required to assist with traffic distribution and to provide highway users with safe access options. The proposed development is considered to be unsustainable, with future users being heavily dependent on car travel.”
The application was presented to the committee again on Wednesday, 19 March, and was approved with new recommendations.
Under the recommendations, the developer is required to invest £312,480 towards a new secondary school and £270,000 in funding towards parks and open spaces in the area under Section 106 contributions.
This includes an £8,658 contribution towards waste management facilities, £4,018 for upgrading library stock to accommodate the influx of residents, and £40,000 for upgrading bus facilities, including a new bus stop and works to improve the A6070 Pleasley Road bus stop.
Cllr Helen-Ann Smith (Ash Ind) said during the meeting: “The decision has ultimately been made.
“It’s certainly a massive shame that we are losing green spaces in Ashfield, and a big problem with that is this current Government’s mindset that houses must be built at all costs.
“Later on today, when we’re looking at appeal decisions like Newark Road, it goes to show that this current Government’s mindset towards residents in Sutton-in-Ashfield – they’re not on our side.”
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