Green light for 187-home development in village

A housing development has been approved on a patch of grassland described as "the last green space" in a village.

South Derbyshire District Council gave permission to plans for 187 homes off Swadlincote Lane in Castle Gresley on Tuesday.

Jess Graham, on behalf of the developer David Wilson Homes, said the plot was "surrounded by residential and commercial development" and was a "logical and sustainable location for housing".

However, critics of the development told the meeting they were concerned it would have fewer affordable homes than the required 30%.

Officials said the developer intended to start work on site later this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Fewer affordable homes are planned than the 30% the council requires due to the cost of building on former mine workings and coal seams, which is due to be remediated and investigated before work begins.

The patch of grassland is said to be the "last green space" in Castle Gresley, due to other housing schemes and businesses being approved on all plots surrounding it.

Graham said it had been proven the council did not have a five-year housing land supply, prompting a need for the development.

A total of £702,000 in contributions would be made to schools, health services, bus travel improvements and the National Forest, but £370,000 worth of contributions would be scrapped for sports and leisure improvements, cemeteries and libraries.

Councillor Ben Stuart said funding being given to Linton Primary School to support the plans was not viable, with the school a 45-minute walk away and without a safe crossing over the A444, alongside an existing bridge which did not provide access to people with pushchairs.

He said: "I am concerned about affordable housing. I appreciate we didn't accept 10 per cent but 13 per cent is still a significant compromise."

Steffan Saunders, the council's head of planning, said the developer was convinced they could get the scheme completed within five years, but that this was not a "guarantee".

A total of 12 councillors voted to approve the scheme with one councillor rejecting the plans.

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