Sutton residents angry over new proposal for 201 homes off Ashland Road

Developers David Wilson Homes held a public consultation on July 15th at Brierley Forest Park visitor centre seeking views on the proposal to build 201 houses on green land off Ashland Road.

Rob Blaney, Development Director for David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “We are currently consulting on a proposal which, if successful, would bring 201 quality new homes on Ashland Road in Sutton.

“We recently laid out our initial plans at a public consultation event at Brierley Forest Park Visitor Centre.

“We are now looking at all feedback received and considering the responses ahead of a second public consultation event planned for the autumn, more details of which will be announced soon.”

The proposed development would incorporate a range of new homes to cater for all potential household sizes, primarily aimed at families.

This week Sutton West Councillor Ramon Buttery was backing residents who are opposing the development.

He has concerns about infrastructure, space in local schools, medical provision and traffic.

Coun Buttery said: “Everybody around here is objecting to it.

“Another 200 houses means about 400 more cars and more children.

“I have asked the developers where the new school was in the plans.

“At St Mary Magdalene Primary School first year there have been 130 applicants for just 30 places this year.”

Sutton resident Mrs Margaret Marshall, whose house would be near the proposed site, said she was worried that the site would ruin the ambience of the park and join the boundaries of Sutton and Huthwaite with no green spaces in between.

She added: “As well as the aesthetics there are questions about sewage.

“The build would be on a very wet field and they have proposed a pumping station in the corner - the sewage system is already full to capacity.

“Cars come out on Ashland Road west from there and emerge onto the main road.

“Traffic from the A38 and the M1 use the road as a bypass. More cars will become a problem.

“I also believe the local doctors is full to capacity.”

Eric Bone, chairman of Huthwaite Action Group said the proposal was in the wrong place.

He said: ”We need development but we need the right type of housing in the right area.

“They have just built 500 houses around Mill Lane, Huthwate and these would be of the same type.

“There is not a problem with first time buyers here, we need to attract the next tier up.

“We need houses for business owners to attract more businesses to the area.”

There are also concerns about the affect of the development on endangered species in the park.

Residents also complained that leaflets for the initial public consultation had not been posted to the homes overlooking the site.