New flats plan for Mansfield town centre

Mansfield Woodhouse company Trust Property Solutions has pitched plans for the site at Holmes House, on Ratcliffe Gate, to Mansfield District Council.

Developers hope to turn Holmes House into 39 apartments - but some Mansfield residents say the town is becoming ‘saturated’ with similar developments.

In planning documents, developers say the site ‘is currently an empty office block owned by Nottinghamshire Police Authority’.

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“We are looking to acquire the property and convert into 39 apartments, 27 two bedrooms and 12 one bedrooms, under Permitted Development Rights,” it adds.

“In terms of alterations to elevations, there may only be some minor alterations as we intend to work within the current window designs and configurations.”

Although a transport statement concludes that ‘on-site parking provision is below the minimum parking standards for Mansfield District Council’, developers say the frequency of buses along Ratcliffe Gate mean the plan is ‘sustainable’ and should ‘result in a net reduction in traffic flows and thus no reason for refusal due to highways reasons’.

Planning documents also suggest there is ‘potential for significant flooding local to the site’.

However the site is identified in the council’s Local Plan as a key regeneration site and developers say there is ‘low risk of flooding to the building itself’.

There are two historic waste sites within 250m of the site and a historic landfill site about 550m away.

Next to the site to the south-west is an area which was used for heavy industry in the form of a gas works from the 1880’s to 1970’s.

Planning documents add: “As the proposed development is largely limited to redevelopment of the existing building and only minor external works are being undertaken, we can assume that the risk from ground contamination is low.”

One resident said: “I know there is a housing shortage in Mansfield and targets to keep as set by the government, but the old Job Centre on Commercial Gate is in the middle of being converted to apartments too.

“Is the town now over saturated with flats/apartments?”