Controversial new homes on former Eastwood school site are rejected

The major development was planned for the former site of Lynncroft Primary School, on Walker Street – the school buildings have been demolished after the site closed in 2017.

Broxtowe Council delayed a decision on the plans in July, after a resident said it would have a “detrimental impact” on the community.

Residents on Garden Road and Atherfield Gardens, which border the site, said they would also be overlooked “from considerable height”.

The homes would be accessed via a single road which residents said was “inadequate”.

Some councillors suggested bungalows should be built along part of the development which backs onto existing housing, but developer Avant Homes said this was not viable.

Instead, Avant said it had reduced the height of the housing and would plant trees along the border of the site.

Council officers recommended the revised plans were approved, but councillors refused them at their latest planning committee meeting.

Coun Bob Bullock, member for Eastwood Hall, said he supported housing on the site, but had “serious concerns” and said Avant Homes was “trying to pull the wool over the eyes of this committee”.

In 2020, Avant was granted outline planning permission to build up to 200 homes on the site. There is also outline planning permission for 60 assisted living apartments on the same site.

Resident Steve Willgoose said: “Sadly, since the last meeting where the councillors suggested the applicant might reconsider the layout, no such change has been made.

“Our privacy would still be removed and new houses would still look directly into our homes. Light levels will be reduced and this development will permanently block it from ever reaching our gardens and homes. Our outlook and the character of our gardens would also be destroyed.

“The applicant has refused to engage with residents and is now ignoring the will of this committee. I see no reason why we should give up one candle of light, one sq inch of sky or one minute of privacy to benefit the property developer who is unwilling to fulfil its responsibilities to consult with us.”

Coun Bullock said: “I am concerned about the low level of affordable housing on this site and the over-intensive development with 104 houses on a site originally scheduled for 75.

“Cramming that many properties onto this site has led to the developers trying to build as close as possible to neighbouring properties. The impact on residents of Garden Road and Atherfield Gardens would be profound.”

Before the decision, an Avant spokesman said: “Since the application was deferred from July’s committee, we’ve been working to address concerns about the impact of the development on neighbouring dwellings.

“Avant has met with officers to work through detailed amendments to the scheme and I am pleased to say we have been able to provide a number of significant and positive changes.

“We have lowered the height of the proposed houses that will back onto the neighbouring properties in Garden Road.

“Avant commissioned a sun study to assess whether overshadowing would be an issue. The study demonstrates there will be no harmful impact as a result of overshadowing or significant loss of sunlight. Additional landscaping is also proposed, with tree planting.”