Plans for 149 homes on green belt land have been approved despite residents questioning if there was “nowhere else more suitable”, including due to the risk posed by old mine shafts.
Central and Country has been given outline permission to build the homes, plus convenience retail space, on land off Alfreton Road in Selston, following consultation with the Government.
Mine workings once took place under the site, with a cluster of three mine shafts having been documented in the area.
This prompted concerns from residents living nearby, among other fears such as the impact on local services and roads.
The Coal Authority said the development falls within what it notes as a “high-risk” area, and that the shafts could significantly affect public safety and surface stability for the proposed development.
Patricia Ainsworth, of the nearby Valentine Avenue, said: “Is there really nowhere in Ashfield more suitable for development than a mine-shaft-filled, flood-prone, wildlife-abundant piece of green-belt land with geography that all but guarantees transport gridlock?”
However, the Coal Authority raised no objection to the development and suggested that intrusive ground investigations are undertaken before the submission of more detailed plans, including the development’s layout.
These investigations have been set as one of many conditions on the development, according to documents published by Ashfield District Council.
Another resident, Katarzyna Stryczynska-Munro, of Portland Road, added: “Selston and its surrounding areas don’t need any more houses.
“We have no infrastructure for this. This would increase pollution and noise and significantly increase traffic.
“There is already very little space to park, and driving is becoming more difficult. Roads are in a bad state. Our schools will not be able to take so many new students. We struggle to get to the doctor’s.
“If you add more people to this area, this will make residents’ lives worse.”
The council says it has secured numerous planning obligations to help offset these potential problems, including financial contributions from the developer.
More than £567,000 will go towards secondary education improvements in the area, £80,000 for local healthcare, and improvements to Selston Country Park or Valentine Recreation Ground, totalling £298,000.
The outline permission has been granted after the council consulted with the Government’s Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government because the proposal is classed as “inappropriate development in the green belt”.
The council’s planning committee approved the plans itself at a meeting in December last year, but on the condition that consultation with the Government would take place.
The Government raised no issues following the consultation.
Central and Country says at least 25 per cent of the homes would be classed as affordable.
The site, while traditionally green belt land, is today designated as grey belt land, which includes areas of the protected green belt that are considered “low quality”.
It was first deemed suitable for housing a number of years ago under the council’s local plan.
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter