A second attempt is being made to build houses on a parcel of undeveloped grassland on the edge of Ashfield villages Teversal and Fackley, and close to Stanton Hill.
Three years ago, Ashfield District Council rejected a scheme for 47 homes at the site, which spans more than five acres, next to Station Farm, off Pleasley Road, and the popular Silverhill Trail.
It was deemed to be an “unsuitable location, isolated from services, facilities and sustainable travel options”, while the development’s proposed access was branded “unacceptable”.
But now developers are back with “a revised and improved scheme” for 41 houses, complete with 80 car-parking spaces, which seeks to address the previous problems.
The site earmarked for housing sits next to the popular Silverhill Trail in Teversal.
And a planning statement insists: “The proposed development would deliver significant benefits. There are no adverse impacts.”
The company behind the application for outline permission is the London-based firm Ruliskar Ltd, whose two active directors are Rebecca Fixter, 38, and Sam Fowkes, 43. Companies House reveals that a couple of previous directors, Russell Fowkes, 76, and Lily Fowkes, 70, both of Selston, resigned in June.
The applicant’s agents are the Derby-based architecture and heritage specialists, Planning and Design Practice, who have submitted a planning statement to support the proposal.
It explains that the land is bound by Pleasley Road to the north-west and a public right of way to the south-east, with the Silverhill Trail, comprising pedestrian and cycle pathways, close by and houses to the north-east and south-west.
Station Farm, off Pleasley Road, Teversal, which is next to the proposed housing site.
The statement stresses that, far from being isolated, the site is near an established network of roads and trails, with bus stops to hand on nearby Fackley Road and Stanton Hill a mere 15-minute walk away.
Other services and facilities within walking distance included Teversal visitor centre and football club, a bowls club, a rugby club, the Carnarvon pub, Healdswood Infant and Nursery School, All Saints Church, a Co-op shop, Meden Bank Park and Silverhill Wood.
These demonstrated that there were “strong residential links to the surrounding area”, says the statement.
With regard to access, the plan was to use an existing agricultural access from Pleasley Road but to widen it to make it two-way, with pavements on either side. A central trunk road would also be built, with smaller private roads “to create a varied streetscape and allow for ease of vehicular movement”.
Pleasley Road in Teversal. (PHOTO BY: Akan Walker)
An additional footpath would also be built, and trees and hedgerows planted to “strengthen an existing green boundary buffer”.
Developers would ensure a nearby local nature reserve, renowned for its rare orchids, would not be impacted.
The statement says six of the 41 houses would be classed as affordable. At this early stage, the proposed mix was for two one-bedroom homes, ten two-bed, 20 three-bed and nine four-bed.
Outlining the benefits of the scheme, Planning and Design Practice said construction would generate jobs, boost the local economy and lead to infrastructure improvements, such as drainage.
The development would also contribute to Ashfield’s housing needs on a site that was not within a conservation area, contained no listed buildings and did not run the risk of flooding.
The council’s planning officers are currently considering the proposal and hope to make a decision or recommendation by their deadline date of Tuesday, February 3.
THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/
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