Decision over airfield housing masterplan delayed

A decision on whether a major housing development set for an airfield in Nottinghamshire can move on to its next stage has been delayed.

Rushcliffe Borough Council paused a vote on the project, set to bring up to 4,000 homes and a school to Tollerton Airfield, on Tuesday while more detailed information is provided by developers on highways plans.

The council was set to approve a masterplan for the development, which would provide "clear guidance" on where infrastructure should be sited as part of the planning process.

However, they said they were unable to back the plan as developers have not submitted detailed traffic modelling data for the project.

Councillors are aiming to create the overarching plan, also known as a supplementary planning document (SPD), to provide guidance to a number of land owners and developers involved in the project.

The site is part-owned by development companies Barwood Land and Taylor Wimpey, who submitted an application for up to 2,250 new homes, a primary school, local centre and supporting infrastructure in December 2020.

Plans for a total of 1,600 homes and a second primary school were submitted by The Vistry Group, who own the airfield located within the site, in March 2024.

The site is also part-owned by Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Trueman Aviation, Spire Hospital and a number of other private residential properties.

Speaking after the council meeting on Tuesday, Roger Upton, cabinet member for planning and housing, called on the three applicants to provide the extra details so that the plans avoid being delayed by a change in planning policy set to come into force after 30 June.

The government has decided to scrap the SPD process, replacing it with a new process which the council said could take over a year to implement.

Councillors, therefore, need to make a decision on the masterplan ahead of that date to avoid further delays.

"We do need to make a decision by June 30, 2026 and will be calling upon the developers and highways agencies to provide this information, which they have had months and years to complete," Upton added.

"As a council we have called on the government to scrap housing targets, but this policy does not seem forthcoming, and we have an obligation to have an up-to-date Local Plan and five-year land supply.

"If we do not, we risk applications for homes in other areas on top of the Gamston and Tollerton site, which could also be determined by a government inspector rather than by local people."

A spokesperson for the Vistry Group said: "We are looking forward to delivering its part of the development - approximately 1,600 of the homes, the local centre and one primary school.

"The first phase will deliver 381 mixed-tenure homes, with an estimated 500 direct and indirect jobs being created during the construction stage of Vistry's development.

"We are supportive of RBC's work to date on the development of its supplementary planning document and we are now working with the council to ensure that the further level of detail required in relation to the delivery of highway infrastructure is included when the document is presented again".

A Taylor Wimpy spokesperson added they were also supportive of the council's work on the supplementary planning document.

"We remain committed to working closely with the council and other consortium members to provide the required detail to aid the delivery of the highway infrastructure," they said.

Barwood Land have also been contacted for comment.

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