Latest from Nick Palmer (MP)
| Published: 30th June 2008 22:08 |
Housing development latest
As promised we had a detailed briefing from Nottingham Regeneration Limited on Friday (27th JUne 2008)- this is the body acting for the eight local councils who I've been lobbying on your behalf. Highlights:
NRL have recommended REJECTION of these sites of interest to us:
• Watnall/Kimberley/Nuthall/Moorgreen
• Nuthall A6002 (by the business park)
• Trowell to Cossall
• Chilwell/Bramcote east of Bardills
If this recommendation is adopted, then no major housing development on these areas is foreseen before 2027 at the earliest (to avoid constantly revisiting the same issues).
They have RECOMMENDED for short-listing these sites for possible housing development between now and 2026:
• North of Stapleford up to the ridge, running along Coventry Lane up to Bilborough College (3800-5700 homes by 2026)
• West of Bardills and Stapleford Lane, the space behind George Spencer running down to the sewage works (1400-1900 homes)
• Toton Sidings, the area previously considered for the sleeper- crushing factory (600-800 homes)
Also on the short list are huge sites in Rushcliffe (Clifton Pastures alone to get 7500 homes with the emphasis on affordable housing) and Ashfield and Stanton Ironworks. The expectation is that the total
anticipated need over the next 18 years (including current waiting lists) will be about 3000 homes a year, though in view of the current climate in the housing market it's expected that this will start very
slowly and speed up later. Two thirds of that will be covered by urban development on brownfield sites and use of currently empty properties in Nottingham City, so we're looking at about 1000/year for the conurbation around the city, of which Broxtowe's share might
be a few hundred a year. It's therefore likely that about half the short-listed sites will be rejected at the next stage - they don't need that much, and some of the sites contradict each other (e.g. I doubt if Stanton and the area west of Bardills will both get developed - they'd impact the same road network). It will be up to us
to put the case to see that the right sites are adopted.
What happens next?
• The full report will be online today (Monday - 30th June 2008) at
www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/regionalspatialstrategy.htm
• Next month, we should get confirmation of the demographic estimate of the total needed by 2026, and also the City's estimate of how many they expect to be able to provide
• The councils will draw up a paper by the autumn identifying pros and cons of each possible site. Any input on this that you'd like to give me will be assembled and submitted to the councils.
• There will then be a formal consultation on which sites
should be taken forward.
• The councils will attempt to agree on a joint recommendation next spring.
• There will then be a final round of consultation on that
• If it's approved, it will form the framework for council
planning frameworks and individual planning applications in the years to come.
I'm very pleased that we were able to get several very controversial sites excluded in the first round. This is exactly what I hoped for when lobbying NRL earlier than most MPs: I know how these things work, and it's always better to nip schemes in the bud if possible.
At the Friday discussion, the gigantic Rushcliffe scheme passed without comment, since Rushcliffe's MP wasn't there and hadn't lobbied NRL. He'll get the chance at a later stage, but it's harder if they've not heard the objections at an early point.
What about the three schemes left in our area? The most controversial is undoubtedly the one north of Stapleford along Coventry Lane. This would overturn the findings of the Planning Inspector of a few years ago, and consume a very large green area: I expect to oppose it strongly - apart from the landtake itself, I don't see where all the
extra traffic will go. If it goes north it will run into the Nuthall roundabout; if it goes south it hits the A52: both are already congested. The proposal west of Bardills is also likely to meet opposition, as it's a popular walking area. By contrast, I suspect there will be quite a few people who see advantages in the Toton
Sidings idea - if housing is built there, it prevents another noisy commercial project from being proposed in the future. Access to this would be from the long Eaton side, so the usual reservations about traffic probably don't arise.
We have a few months before the next stage, and before submitting detailed comments, I want to consult constituents about these proposals.
As always, comments welcome on both housing issues and my
newsletter - because of the usual pressure of work, "NNTR" ("no need to reply") notes will be welcome where you think it appropriate!
Best wishes
Nick
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