Derby residents slam ‘horrendous’ 400 homes plan next to A52 on the Erewash border

Residents have hit out at plans to allow 400 new homes next to the A52. Image by LDRS.

Residents have furiously hit out at plans to potentially allow 400 new homes be built next to the A52.

Derby City Council is allocating land next to Stoney Lane in Spondon as a spot where hundreds of new homes could be potentially built in the future as part of its next Local Plan.

The development master-plan sets out where 12,500 new homes can be built across Derby over the next 17 years – at a time when building new homes is a huge priority for both the Government and the city council.

The council Labour administration moved the major plan forward last week by agreeing to its updated version and to hold a second public consultation in the coming weeks.

This will follow the first public consultation, for which the Stoney Lane allocation plan received “strong opposition”.

No planning application has been submitted yet for the site but the council said it expected one to be made by a developer in the future.

The updated Local Plan states a development would expand the eastern side of Spondon and could create a minimum of 40 percent affordable housing.

The land in question was previously classified as green belt – meaning it was strictly protected from development.

But, according to the council, studies have shown the site can now be identified as “grey belt” – meaning development for housing is possible.

Residents living on Stoney Lane told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they were concerned about the proposals and its impact.

Ellie Wibberly, who has lived on the street for six years, said she was worried the countryside next to her home would be lost when it is valued highly.

The 33-year-old said: “I think this will be the fourth new-build [housing estate] planned for Spondon. I don’t think Spondon is big enough.

“Nobody can get a doctor here.

“It’s a nice walk to Ockbrook [on the fields] and I bought the house because of the countryside nature next to it.”

Shane Downing was furious about the “horrendous” proposals and said highways impacts will be a major worry should the plans come to fruition.

“We don’t need another 400 new homes,” he said. “At this rate there will be no countryside left. It’s horrendous.

“Where is the traffic going to go? It’s bad enough as it is now as a race track. Where is the junction going to go?

“You try getting a doctor’s appointment here. They’re full, the dentist is full and so are the schools. Imagine what it will be like if another 800 residents live here.”

Derby’s new Local Plan is expected to be submitted to the Government for consideration later this year.

Councillor Shiraz Khan, cabinet member for housing, at Derby City Council, said: “The Local Plan is a very significant document, setting out our vision for housing, communities, and employment growth in the city over the next two decades.

“Although the current plan runs until 2028, updated housing requirements and changing local needs mean a fresh, forward-looking strategy is now required.”