Progress has been made on a delayed 131-home development in Linby.
Barwood Homes was first given approval for the housing development, off Hayden Lane in Linby, in October 2023.
However the developer hit delays in signing legal agreements relating to its financial contributions to lessen the impact of the scheme.
After changes in national housing policies in the past two years, Gedling Borough Council needed to approve the plans again.
They returned to its planning committee on Wednesday (December 3), where councillors gave them the green light again.
Plans came back with some minor changes, including more money from the developer to go towards improved bus services in the area.
In total the developer will be providing £158,000 towards bus services, and £24,500 towards a bus stop, as well as a boost for other local services such as library provision and education.
In total the developer contributions, provided under what’s known as a Section 106 agreement, have increased from £834,093 to £999,564 in the updated planning application.
Planning officer Nigel Bryan said: “The key change is linked to the split of affordable housing. In effect that is proposed to remove the ‘first homes’ and move to 26 affordable rent and 14 shared ownership, which is compliant with the affordable home supplementary planning document which we have.
“In terms of some of the other changes in terms of the contributions. The layout remains the same as was previously agreed by committee.”
Before any building can commence the developer must obtain planning consent from Ashfield District Council for two access roads that sit within the authority’s boundaries.
These are Delia Avenue and Dorothy Avenue in Hucknall, and access permission is the final hurdle before construction can begin.
One councillor questioned whether this permission would be granted, considering Ashfield councillors have been opposed to the development in the past.
Two additional letters of objection were also sent in, and highlighted concerns over the impact of additional traffic along the access roads.
Hucknall’s Ashfield Independents councillors campaigned against the plans after they first emerged in 2022, raising concerns the new properties would put strain on the town’s infrastructure, while Gedling Borough Council would be getting the majority of financial contributions from the developer.
Planning documents say work on the development “may not be imminent” as a result.
Cllr Stuart Bestwick (Con) said: “From memory this Delia and Dorothy Avenue, the two access points, are owned by Ashfield District Council.
“I know there was some discussion about whether Ashfield will grant access on those. Could you update members on where they are with that?”
Mr Bryan added: “[The agent] was waiting to get this resolution and then they will be putting in the applications for the small access points.
“In the past an application for another access point from Ashfield was actually refused by them, but it was actually allowed on appeal. You would imagine given a similar application was allowed on appeal after Ashfield refused it, you’ve got to make an assumption there is a high probability it would get permission.”
