Urgent call for Government to review new homes

The Government has been urged to review a controversial move to allow more than 250 homes to be built on the edge of Derby.

A fresh row has emerged over the significant disputed decision to build 259 new homes near Spondon after a council housing strategy was slammed by the Government.

In a meeting in February, planning permission was granted for a new Bloor Homes development on green belt land between Spondon and Spondon Wood – despite opposition from hundreds of residents. 

The land, which is home to dozens of deer, was earmarked for new housing in Erewash Borough Council’s core strategy review (future housing plans) – which at the time was sitting with a Government planning inspector.

John Wright, a Derby city councillor, told the meeting that the scheme would be “part of Derby” and not help Erewash meet its housing needs, saying: “Once Green Belt is built on it will never be the same again.”

However, the planning inspectorate has made very critical remarks about the council’s housing strategy in recent days. 

The inspectorate has said in a letter its strategy, as it stands, has “serious shortcomings” which have “significant implications for the examination”.

One of the serious issues outlined by the Inspectorate includes major concern over how the borough council has allocated green belt land for new housing. 

It states “the allocation of sites proposed is not justified”.

The concerns are so serious that the Planning Inspectorate believes “the Erewash Core Strategy Review should be withdrawn”.  

It has told the borough council it must take further action to address problems including “reassessment of chosen housing allocations” and must inform of its next steps within days.

Following this, angry Derby councillors have called for the Government to step in and withdraw the building of the new homes at Spondon Woods altogether. 

Spondon councillors Jonathan Smale, Chris Poulter and Nicola Roulstone have written to Housing Secretary Steve Reed and called for him to review the approval of the planning application and/or let the Government have the final say on the development.

They claim Derby schools and GP surgeries are already at or beyond capacity and could not accommodate further students and patients.

Their letter states: “The community of Spondon has expressed widespread and sustained concern regarding the scale, suitability and environmental impact of this proposal.

“Proceeding on the basis of an allocation that may soon be struck out would cause lasting damage – not only physically to the Green Belt,  but institutionally to the integrity of the planning process.” 

Erewash Borough Council has responded to the Planning Inspectorate’s damning letter.

Councillor Curtis Howard, Erewash Borough Council’s lead member for planning, said: “The council will be responding to the Planning Inspectorate within the agreed timescale and will be announcing its next moves shortly.

“We are fully aware of our responsibilities in relation to meeting national planning targets and are determined to see more homes built in Erewash.”

Images:

• The proposed plan for 263 homes between Spondon and Spondon Wood in the protected Green Belt. Image from Pegasus Group.
• Worried deer on the site between Spondon and Spondon Wood, in Erewash. (Credit: Eddie Bisknell - LDRS)