Boost for plan to build 70 affordable homes on former railway land in Kirkby

Ashfield District Council wants to create the development of 70 properties on a site spanning almost five acres to the south of Southwell Lane that was originally railway sidings.

The scheme first came to light in the summer of 2025 when it was revealed that the purchase of the land, using money from housing developers, was dependent on planning permission being granted.

Now the council has submitted an application to its own planning officers requesting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) screening opinion for the proposed development.

This EIA would consider the scale and nature of the project and its possible impact on issues such as traffic, noise, air quality, the landscape, ecology and visual appearance.

To support the application, a statement has been prepared by experts at Enzygo, a Sheffield-based environmental and planning consultancy.

The statement says the site is a rectangular-shaped plot which used to be a railway yard and loco sidings that served the Kirkby Summit Colliery.

The pit closed in 1968 and the loco sheds and sidings were largely demolished in 1971. The land had been vacant since a small warehouse was knocked down in the early 2000s.

Enzygo says the site is surrounded by “employment units, storage facilities and residential dwellings”. The Robin Hood railway line ran immediately to the west.

It was part of a wider parcel of land, measuring 19 acres, which included woodland and a wild meadow that the council would like to be retained.

This area, known as Kirkby Wasteland, was designated as a local wildlife site, suitable for species such as butterflies, although parts of it were overgrown.

The statement goes on: “The proposed development seeks to utilise the northern section of the wider vacant site for affordable homes, while preserving the woodland and meadow areas to the south. This area would be used for landscaping and habitat improvements.

"Ashfield Council identifies the site has being available, potentially suitable and potentially achievable.”

The council’s planning officers are currently considering the EIA application and hope to make a decision or recommendation by their deadline date of Monday, November 16.

THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/