Neighbours have voiced their concern over a loss of greenery if 640 extra homes are built at a 'new village' in Nottinghamshire. A proposed extension of 640 homes has been provisionally proposed for Top Wighay in Hucknall as part of a joint plan between Nottingham City Council, Gedling Borough Council, Broxtowe Borough Council and Rushcliffe Borough Councils to allocate areas for 2,000 homes.
The £205m Top Wighay housing project, which was given outline planning permission in April 2021, is currently allocated for 805 new homes, a new primary school, a local commercial centre and green spaces. Some locals were not keen on hundreds more homes being built on green land, although others fully endorsed the plans.
Fiona Rutherford, 32, a charity director who lives near to the Top Wighay site, said: "It has been lovely having all of this lovely green land behind our homes, we'd lose more of that view with those extra homes.
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"I see the need for housing and I had seen these plans [for the initial 804 allocation] before we moved here, so we took that into account. More than 1,000 homes is concerning though because the building work will have a big effect on the area.
"It needs a lot of infrastructure because that's enough people for a new village or town. The traffic is something that I would be worried about once the houses are ready."
An Duong, 31, an aerospace engineer who lives in Wighay Road, next to where the new homes will be built, said: "People do not really use it and we need (homes) so I think it's a good thing, but I think there will be worries about wildlife and losing green land.
"It's a new village, especially if those extra homes are added. I'm not too concerned at the moment but it hasn't started yet apart from the road, but it could cause issues - we'll have to wait and see what effect it has on the area."
The county council previously outlined that they expect 1,000 new jobs to be created by the homes, boosting the economy by more than £873 million over the next decade. For the extension, the document says the potential impact on the Local Wildlife Site within the land should be considered.
Melissa Tulley, 28, from Hucknall, added: "I don't really mind as people need houses. It is all private land so I don't think many people go over there at the minute.
"I think it is fine as there's still a lot of demand for houses and the prices are still high. It is really just like a whole new village.
"There will be a lot of construction and greenery gone, but there will still be open land near it."
Residents, organisations and businesses are now being asked to have their say on the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan to help shape future planning for the area, including the Top Wighay expansion. Approval of the Strategic Plan is a matter for each Council and the Preferred Approach document has been considered by each council’s cabinet, endorsing the consultation to commence on January 3 for six weeks.
Previously, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, portfolio holder for sustainable growth and economy on Gedling Borough Council, said: “Government has set a housing target for at least 7,950 homes to be built in Gedling Borough by 2038. The Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan sets out the strategy and approach for where these houses will be built.
"Much of the housing has already been allocated on sites such as at Chase Farm in Gedling, Teal Close in Netherfield and North of Papplewick Lane near Hucknall where developments are well under way, as well as at Top Wighay Farm at Hucknall where planning permission has already been granted. The ‘Preferred Approach’ document proposes further development at extensions to the strategic sites at Top Wighay Farm and Teal Close."
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