People living in a Nottinghamshire town have spoken of their fears that it may soon 'double in size'. Thousands of new houses have been proposed for Hucknall, prompting a backlash against a series of different plans.
Recently, objections were raised by Hucknall councillors to a planned development of 135 homes off Hayden Lane and an access road, which falls just within Gedling Borough Council's boundaries. And in February, plans were put forward for 130 new houses, described as posh homes by one councillor, to be constructed off Common Lane at the Misk Hills site.
Adding to this is the deeply controversial Ashfield District Council plan to build 3,000 homes on green belt land at Whyburn Farm, which had previously sparked a debate between the council and Government over who was to blame. While a petition against the Draft Local Plan, which sets out where 8,226 homes will be built between now and 2038, was previously accepted at a council meeting the scheme is currently indefinitely paused.
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Roy Harping, 86, a retiree who lives in Hucknall, said Hucknall was set to 'double in size'. "There's really a lot planned, it is ridiculous. In a few years it will have doubled in size.
"I've lived here for 20 years and there aren't any services for people already. No shops and there's not enough in the town centre for all these new people.
"Getting out on to the roads will be another problem. It would be something like 6,000 more cars. It's not a place that is built for all these people so unless more facilities are put in it's unsuited to these big plans."
Michael Hawksworth, 53, who has lived in Hucknall all of his life, said: "It's starting to feel like we're getting all the houses dumped on us. There's been some building here before but at the minute there are loads planned. There are not a lot shops and the town centre isn't very big at all.
"There are concerns about the loss of green space as well, there's lots of that going already. Quite a lot of people in Hucknall are concerned and talking about it, it'll just all end up being concrete."
A Hucknall resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It is a lot, and that would be fine if there was the infrastructure, but there isn't.
"We have had a new primary but no secondary. And getting into doctors and dentists is an absolute nightmare.
"I think we won't cope when all these houses are taken into account and people will not accept that. At the end of the day, the people moving here need stuff just as much, too."
Hayden Lane and Misk Hills are currently pending consideration by Gedling Borough Council and Ashfield District Council respectively. Whyburn Farm, meanwhile, which could include 3,000 homes, remains on hold after being paused by the council, who are seeking Government clarification on guidance on green belt land and housing targets.
Ashfield Independent Councillor Dave Shaw, who represents Hucknall North, said: "The draft local plan is still on pause due to the mixed messages that are coming from the Conservative Government. Boris Johnson has stated that he wouldn't force councils to build on green belt and green fields. Michael Gove has also stated that the housing targets we are forced to meet are out of date and need reviewing. Under this uncertainty- it's only right that the plan is paused.
"Hucknall's Ashfield Independent Councillors are against being forced to give permission to build on Whyburn Farm. We have all officially written lengthy objections and have also objected to planning applications on Misk Hills and for an access road near Hayden Lane for a development in Gedling."
Ashfield Independent Councillor John Wilmott, who represents Hucknall North, added: "Really the situation is that there has been a load of housebuilding at Hucknall over a number of years. It just seems as if Hucknall is taking the brunt for all the new housing in and around this area.
"People are obviously against it because we don't have the infrastructure that is necessary to accommodate these people. Also, the roads are becoming gridlocked and it is a real serious issue.
"All the people I talk to see it as being far too many being proposed, and that is why so many people are up in arms about it. We've had petitions of thousands of people saying 'enough is enough' and I fully support them."
