More than 200 homes planned for former Mansfield quarry site

The former Gregory Quarry has been earmarked for ‘high quality’ new homes and apartments as well as open spaces, landscaped habitats, water features and a family play area.

Since quarrying ended at the site several years ago, it has been left vacant and blighted by drug abuse and other criminal activity.

But Lee O’Connor, whose family operated the working stone quarry, has worked with specialist consultants to create plans for a scheme sympathetic to re-purpose the now-redundant land.

“Following extensive talks with council planning officers, environmental consultants working in close collaboration with local architects, we have created a scheme which aims to take this redundant stone quarry and transform it into an exceptional residential environment which both embraces ecology and needs of the wider community,” he said.

“Having owned and operated the site for almost 20 years we are emotionally invested in ensuring that its evolution from a working stone quarry into the next chapter of its story is achieved without compromise.

“The proposed design will provide safe open spaces and routes where pedestrians and cyclists have priority, with cars restricted to dedicated off street parking.

“This project is about designing a seamless transition between the natural and the residential environment.”

Following extensive consultation, the proposals have taken on board environmental concerns – aiming to deliver an important biodiversity element to the project with the introduction of bird nesting, bat roosts, other wildlife features and an overall biodiversity net gain.

The project will also open up and improve accessibility to the path situated on the old railway Viaduct and providing safe access into and around the Local Nature Reserve.

In addition, there are also plans to introduce a pedestrian footpath along the nature reserve side of Quarry Lane to improve safety.

Mr O’Connor has allayed fears over any damage caused to the environment by development – saying he is committed to delivering a minimum 10 per cent biodiversity net gain.

“With the specific biodiversity net gain linked to this development, the local authority will have cash made available for deployment on programmes such as tree planting, cleaning and improving river quality, intruding areas of wild flowers and much much more,” he said.

“There will always be differences of opinion but with this project change is most certainly for the good and ultimate benefit of Mansfield

“There is no better stimulus in creating positivity about a place than new investment and, with our plans to have investment in excess of £50m, this proposed development should certainly create a significant amount of positive interest in Mansfield as an exciting destination to invest.

“As we look to post pandemic recovery, Mansfield needs to be shouting louder than other areas in attracting that much needed investment.

“Projects like Gregory Quarry are important in building confidence, attracting and supporting wider investment to the Mansfield area.

“We hope that the application can be positively determined by the end of the summer and the views of the residents of Mansfield would be welcomed.”

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