Families hope that new housing developments expanding a Nottinghamshire village could lead to a new supermarket. With hundreds of houses planned across various sites in the village, people in Calverton say they'd like to see more amenities as the population grows.
It comes after councillors on Gedling Borough Council passed plans this week to increase the size of the Forest View development, at North West Park Road in the village which is being built by Persimmon Homes. In total, it will take the originally-approved total of homes up by 12 to 363.
However, despite the vast number of new homes across the village, local residents believe the developments could pave the way for a much-needed supermarket. Dental nurse Shannon Quinn, 24, of Calverton, said: "I don’t drive myself but I would love to have a supermarket where I can just walk up, as the closest to me is Arnold.
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"It would be good to have somewhere I can just nip to when I need bits and bobs.” Ms Quinn said she could understand why people might be concerned about the strain on local infrastructure.
"I can see where people are coming from in terms of the doctor's and dentist's and that side of it. Other than that it’s just more places for people to live."
Calverton has a Sainsbury's Local and a Co-op convenience store, which are relatively small in comparison to bigger stores. It's not the first time people in the village have called for a new supermarket.
Health and safety advisor Lee White, 52, explained that Calverton was "a quiet little quaint village" and said "it's growing too big without the amenities". "That’s my concern, we only have one doctor's surgery one pharmacy and one secondary school.
"You have to wait 45 minutes and you are queuing out the door for prescriptions and that." He also said he'd like to see another supermarket - "like a small little Aldi or a Tesco".
Semi-retired Dave Haywood, 66, said a new supermarket would be "a great thing" for Calverton. He said: "When winter comes here, if it’s a bad winter we are stuck here and all these other houses being built will be stuck too."
Dozens of homes have already been built as part of the Forest View development. But the most recent application will see amendments to the original plans for part of the land not currently built on, including the re-sizing of some homes and an increase in the number of properties.
The changes were proposed due to issues with a private right of way and because of “a previously unknown water pipe that runs through the eastern part of the site”. Council officers say the layout of the amended plans "broadly follows” the previous designs but some homes have now been shifted onto separate land.
The developer was initially expected to submit plans for 89 homes on this section of the land before the amended proposals were submitted. Through the extra 12 homes being proposed on the development, taking its total to 363 rather than 351, three extra affordable homes will be provided through the development.
This takes the total across the plans to 73, with 51 for affordable rent and 22 for shared ownership. Nigel Bryan, a council planning officer, presented the development to councillors this week.
He told the meeting: “The main change is the number of units. The house types would largely be the same as previously approved. In terms of the additional 12, that would result in three additional affordable housing units. That would be two additional rental properties, at four-bed units, and one shared ownership.
“The developer has started on the site and we can see decent detailing on existing homes. It complies with outline planning permission already approved and we’re recommending approval.”
Councillor John Truscott (Lab), who represents Porchester, is chairman of the planning committee. He added: “To all intents and purposes, this was approved already back in September 2020, so there shouldn’t be anything too contentious about it.”
Members of the committee unanimously approved Persimmon Homes’ plans. A spokesperson for the developer previously said: “Contributions of around £5 million will be made towards local education, public transport, health services and open spaces on and around the development, amongst other benefits.
“We are also pleased to be creating jobs in construction and the supply chain which brings a boost to Calverton’s economy and the region overall.”
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