A group says Southwell could be adversely transformed if plans for 70 new homes are approved next week.
Developer Richborough is seeking outline planning permission for up to 70 homes to be built on land west of Allenby Road, Southwell.
Outline permission is typically sought to assess whether the site is suitable before more detailed plans for design and layout are submitted later.
The site is located to the west of the town, next to the existing residential properties which border open countryside towards the village of Halam.
Southwell is regarded as one of the prettiest towns in Nottinghamshire and is home to the Grade I listed Southwell Minster.
Plans will be discussed at a Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee meeting on Thursday (12 February), where they are expected to be approved.
It will appear before the committee because it represents a departure from the council’s housing allocation plan, and the land was not originally designated for housing.
Southwell Civic Society says a study from 2012 concluded that development of the site would result in “an unacceptable level of impact and was therefore excluded from the Draft Allocations & Development Management DPD (development plan document).”
Roy Lewis, planning secretary at Southwell Civic Society, said: “The fact that the council’s development plan housing policies are now considered out of date does not, in our opinion, outweigh the demonstrable and significant adverse impacts that development of this site would entail.
“Southwell is acknowledged to be a very special historic town, as recognised in the extensive area covered by the Southwell Conservation Area.
“The scale and form of the town, the entrances into the settlement, and its rural setting are essential components of its character. The proposal would dramatically and adversely transform the rural setting of the town on the key approach from the west and on its appreciation from the public footpath network.”
Michael Struggles, of Lees Field, Southwell, also raised an issue with the development not being designated as an allocated housing site under the council’s development plan.
“It is not up to the whims and financial gain of individuals to determine where and how the increasing population is to be housed,” he said in a letter to the council.
“Planners must be proactive and ensure that new developments are sustainable and close to good employment opportunities.”
Paul Jarczewski, of Woodland View, added: “As others have said, Allenby Road is a natural boundary between the built environment and the rural environment on the western side of Southwell.
“This feels like development without a plan, which should ring alarm bells for locals and politicians alike.
“Southwell is a small rural market town and a place of historic importance in Nottinghamshire.
“Therefore, any development should be strategically thought through to avoid a detrimental impact on the character of the place.
“By allowing development beyond Allenby Road, there is a real concern that there is no ‘plan’, and the town’s growth and development are in the hands of housebuilding firms.”
Documents say the proposed development would “help support delivery of smaller [house] types in Southwell” suitable for elderly people looking to downsize and for young people buying their first home.
The developer has included open green space in the proposed scheme, along with new play equipment for children and the retention of the two existing Public Rights of Way on the site to link residents to the wider countryside.
