Homes approved next to historic brickworks site after assurances over contamination investigations

By Eddie Bisknell – Local Democracy Reporting Service

Dozens of homes have been approved next to an historic Derbyshire dumping site for hazardous waste following thorough assurances over investigations into contamination.

At an Erewash Borough Council meeting this month, councillors approved plans from Waterville Land Ltd for 82 homes next to the former Oakwell Brickworks in Derby Road, Ilkeston.

The field used for the housing development was never formally part of the brickworks, the meeting heard, with the brickworks becoming a dumping ground for hazardous waste from Stanton Ironworks and British Steel.

Part of the former brickworks site would be used for part of the scheme, but only for a flood water collection pond.

Councillors agreed to insist that boreholes and testing would be carried out on the pond location, as well as on further locations which had not been assessed on the homes closest to the former brickworks.

Officials report that boreholes on the housing site had not found any contamination at levels harmful to potential residents.

Residents had raised concerns about contamination, traffic, loss of hedges and open space, flooding and the density of the homes.

John White, who lives near the site, said he had helped tip some of the waste onto the neighbouring brickworks in the 60s.

He said: “Any disturbance of that contamination would affect the contents of the attenuation pond and could also see contamination leak into the watercourses, leading to contamination in the wider area.

“There is a danger in what is being proposed.”

He said ponds on the brickworks site were supposed to be entirely fenced off with two-metre-high fencing due to the hazardous contents, and questioned who would be responsible for the proposed new pond.

Sian Griffiths, on behalf of the applicants, said the scheme would help to address a “significant shortfall in housing” and see the construction of high-quality homes, including 12 affordable properties.

Cllr Frank Phillips recalled serious discussions over the site 30 years ago, with the council ruling that the brickworks should not be used for housing, having been earmarked for 250 homes.

He said the brickworks was home to “polluted sludge” which needed to be fenced off, under the direction of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Cllr Phillips claimed the brickworks site had become a “toxic cocktail” with the proposed bill to clean up the “toxic dump” said to be £1 million, as reported by British Steel at the time.

He said 500 tonnes of toxic material, including contaminated soil, had been removed by British Steel, claiming this was from the proposed 82-home housing site.

Steve Birkinhaw, the council’s head of planning, confirmed that large amounts of industrial waste were tipped on the former brickworks, but that the plot was not on the contaminated land register because it did not meet the national requirements.

He confirmed by looking at historic maps that the tip did not extend onto the proposed 82-home site.

Cllr Phillips said the site was known as “Stanton’s dirty little secret” with the last waste reportedly dumped in 1966.

Cllr Kate Fennelly said her family kept horses on the neighbouring plot in the 1970s, saying: “If it was contaminated, it would have come through to that area by now.”

Cllr Andrew Prince said the applicant sought to “cram in as many houses as possible” from Derby Road to the north across to the Nutbrook Trail to the south.

Cllr Harrison Broadhurst, chair of the meeting, said: “The main point of contention is contamination but this is not the contaminated site. It is next to the contaminated site.

“There is no contamination present, but it is of paramount importance that we do not wash our hands of the issue of contamination.”

Cllr Joel Bryan said it was “really important that this is done as safely as possible”, saying the area was in need of affordable homes and had a housing shortfall to meet.

Cllr Ann Mills said “public confidence is really important”, saying “I am just relieved it is not all five-bed detached houses”.

Councillors approved the plans by a vote of 12 in favour and one against, with further boreholes and contamination testing to be carried out.