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A council chief had to use his casting vote to push through an extensive commercial development near Mansfield that promises up to 800 jobs.

Coun Tom Munro, Bolsover Council planning committee chairman, used his power to cast the deciding vote to approve an extension the size of nine football pitches to the Markham Vale business park, after the number of members for and against the application was tied.

The development has been earmarked for land to the north of the M1 and south-west of the Oxcroft junction, Woodshorpe Road, Shuttlewood. Chesterfield Council has already approved the part of the development which sits within its borough.

However in the Bolsover Council meeting, Coun Jim Clifton questioned whether such a large number of potential jobs was “a stretch of the imagination”.

The huge Markham Vale Business Park beside the M1 near Mansfield.

He said: “I’m wondering whether 800 jobs are going to be created, because when we visited the site, the units there, the car parks with about 15 max operating that site.”

Agent Chris Creighton said a nationally accepted government tool had been used to work out the likely number of jobs that would be created, arguing that as businesses grew, so too would their workforces and 2,700 people are currently employed at Markham Vale.

Concerns were raised about the loss of greenfield land, but Coun Duncan McGregor said the site’s location right to the M1 and benefit to the local economy outweighed the loss of green space.

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The project is being delivered by Henry Booth Developments, working with applicant Devonshire Property Group, the development arm of the Chatsworth Estate.

Andrew Byrne, of DPG, said: “We are delighted both planning committees have approved this exciting project.

“This is a high-quality extension to an already successful employment location and will make a real contribution to the strength of the local economy and environment.

“It is a further demonstration of how the Devonshire Property business is actively investing in the area, delivering on our stated ambitions of creating jobs and opportunities for local communities.

“We look forward to being part of this regeneration, working alongside our joint venture partner HBD.”

To mitigate the loss of green space, the applicant has committed to planting about 5,700 trees, as well as creating 3.7 hectares of grassland and two kilometres of native hedgerow to screen the development and create areas of habitat.

Huge business park extension promises 800 jobs near Mansfield