Housing estate plan approved despite traffic fears

Plans for more than 90 homes in a village in Derbyshire have been approved, despite concerns existing traffic congestion is more like that experienced in a city.

South Derbyshire District Council unanimously approved a proposal for 91 homes between Peregrine Avenue and Willington Road, Etwall, on Tuesday.

Etwall Parish Council and 28 residents had objected to the plans due to highways safety, school capacity, and unsafe school walking routes.

Councillors said the approval was only given because the authority lacks a five‑year housing land supply, meaning the authority urgently needs to identify sites for about 1,500 additional homes to be delivered before 2040.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the Etwall estate would have two access points, one off Willington Road, which does not have a pavement, and the other from Peregrine Avenue on neighbouring Redrow newbuild estate The Nook.

Paul Brogan, speaking on behalf of the parish council, said John Port Spencer Academy, the largest secondary school in Derbyshire, was already catering for 2,000 students and 220 staff, with this set to increase.

"Peak congestion is more akin to Derby city rather than a small village," said Brogan.

"We have already had road fatalities and this would critically compound existing traffic issues."

Brogan said traffic assessments of the village had not taken into account school rush hours.

Dr Robert Wickham, agent for the applicants Providence Land, said he has known the area for 40 years and knows the Willington Road junction will need improvement works.

This will be secured by an agreement with the council via the planning permission.

The meeting was also told John Port and Etwall Primary School would continue to face more pressure due to the shelved plans for a new primary at New House Farm near Mickleover and a secondary school at the Infinity Garden Village near Chellaston.

Providence Land has agreed to pay £478,000 for improvements at either Etwall Primary School or the shelved New House Farm school, and £91,000 for improved NHS services.

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