Planned cul-de-sac on Berry Hill Park recommended for refusal by Mansfield District Council

The plans submitted to the council by Linby Homes could see a new cul-de-sac on a section of the park off Berry Hill Lane, Mansfield, that would included two houses, five bungalows and a dormer bungalow on the land owned by Berry Hill Social Welfare Centre.

The planning department for Mansfield Distinct Council has recommended the plans be refused when they go to the Planning Application Committee on October 22, due to missing highway and scale details in the application.

Previous plans for the site between Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation CISWO and Berry Hill Park Care Home were refused in April 2018 and if approved the plans could see one of the park’s four public accesses removed.

It could also see one of the park’s carparks, which is shared with neighbouring CISWO, removed.

Nottinghamshire Police have also criticised the plans to remove the access, saying it would be a risk to the public safety as “officers would have to park further away from potential incidents”.

The application proposes a new public route would be built in a wooded area of the park and an existing carpark accessed from Black Scotch Lane would be reopened.

The site is also in a close proximity to prominent mature trees which are protected by a Tree Preservation Order.

A spokesman from Friends of Berry Hill said: “There is no shortage of housing in the Berry Hill area. The proposed pedestrian route would have a detrimental impact upon wildlife and the environment.”

Councillor Andrew Tristram who represents the area on the council said the current access should be treated as a “public right of way”.