An application to build 100 houses close to a historic site on greenbelt land in Hucknall has been called in for further scrutiny by the town’s councillors. Initially, developers hoped to build 130 homes at the Misk Hills site on land off Common Lane, to the north-west of the town centre and east of the M1.
The plans were subsequently revised and scaled back to 100 houses following concerns raised by local residents. Leading figures in Hucknall have cited the loss of green space, a lack of infrastructure and damage to local wildlife as reasons for their opposition. And neighbours were warned of an impending planning application.
Planning Consultants had already delivered leaflets announcing a two-week online consultation, which opened on Monday, February 14, for residents to comment on the plans. One Hucknall councillor said that the planning application was "akin to environmental vandalism".
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Councillor Lee Waters, who represents the Ashfield Independents for Hucknall North on Ashfield District Council, said: “I am pleased to say that we have called this application in for further scrutiny. This is a site of special historic interest and the setting for a poem by one of Hucknall’s favourite son’s – Lord Byron.
"It is absolutely the wrong place to build over 100 new homes and we’ll be asking the planning committee to turn this down at the earliest opportunity.” The developers, Aldergate Property Group, have said the plan was a "logical expansion" to Hucknall, with the current plan only compromising of part of the land owned by the company.
Councillor John Wilmott, who represents Hucknall North for the Ashfield Independents on the district council, said: "Misk Hills has always held a special place in my heart. I’ve walked amongst its hills all my life. This planning application is akin to environmental vandalism and we will fight these plans tooth and nail.” Local residents in Hucknall recently spoke on the plans for what they called "posh" homes on Hucknall's greenbelt, arguing that it would break up the community.
Meanwhile, concerns have been widely raised over proposals for the huge Whyburn Farm development, allocated in Ashfield District Council's local development plan for 3,000 extra houses be built elsewhere on Hucknall’s greenbelt.
On January 25, local councillors and campaigners called the plan to be scrapped. The pause in the controversial Local Area Plan was cited by the developers of the newly planned estate as the reason to file an application that would give 'certainty' to the area.
