Fresh bid to build houses on parcel of Green Belt land in Selston

The land, which spans 1.2 acres or 0.5 hectares, sits between numbers 124 and 142, Church Lane in the village and is currently used as a paddock for horses, according to planning papers.

Planning applications for housing development, submitted in the past, have all been rejected, including a recent one for five homes, which was turned down not only by the council but also by a government planning inspector on appeal.

Now a fresh application has been lodged with Ashfield District Council for permission in principle for between seven (minimum) and nine (maximum) dwellings.

The applicants are listed as Mr and Mrs Wilson, while the agent for the scheme is the Nottingham-based planning and property company, Grace Machin.

A planning statement by Machin says the fresh proposal seeks to address the reasons for the inspector’s refusal.

It says: “The inspector found that the proposal for up to five dwellings failed to reflect the width of the site, did not make efficient use of land and sat uncomfortably with the prevailing pattern of development in the area.

"This revised proposal responds directly to that concern by increasing the number of dwellings, which better reflects the width and established residential context, opposite and nearby.

"The higher number would enable a development that is more consistent with the area, allowing a more efficient and balanced arrangement of plots across the site.

"The key consideration at this stage is whether the site is suitable in principle for the proposed amount of housing.

"We believe it is a proportionate and positive response to the site’s characteristics.”

The council’s planning officers are currently considering the scheme and hope to make a decision or recommendation before their deadline date of Sunday, October 11.

However, they have already received an objection from an unnamed neighbour which has been posted on the council’s website.

It says the houses could represent “inappropriate development of the Green Belt” by “reducing the openness and rural character of this part of Church Lane”.

"It would contribute to the gradual urbanisation and encroachment of development into the surrounding countryside,” the objection goes on.

"Also, Church Lane is already subject to speeding and difficult traffic conditions. I have personally witnessed, and been aware of, a number of serious accidents, including where vehicles have left the road, overturned and caused damage to gardens and walls.

"Any additional development would inevitably increase vehicle movements.”

In the previous application, Machin pointed out that the site was already bordered by homes and so the proposal would represent “a modest infilling of the village”.

"It would not fundamentally alter the character of the area, where properties are set within spacious plots, with open fields forming the backdrop,” Machin said.

"The scale of the development would be limited and not undermine the ability to perceive the surrounding Green Belt.”

Machin also pointed out that the proposal “would generate economic benefits”, creating work for local contractors during the construction phase. And future residents “would support local shops and services, and contribute towards council tax revenues”.

In short, the company insisted the development would “make a modest but valuable contribution to the supply of housing within the district”.

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/