Hucknall residents have said that it feels like they are being "left behind" as the town braces itself for huge developments. Plans for thousands of homes across multiple sites have been put forward recently, including around 3,000 properties in Wyburn Farm and over 900 new houses at the towns' former Rolls Royce aerodrome site.
Yet, local residents have pointed to a lack of infrastructure across Hucknall as a major concern. Difficulty in securing doctors appointments and school places have also been cited as reasons that plans to move so many people into the town may not be the best idea.
One resident said that she felt the town had gone "downhill."
Retired 79-year-old, Malcolm Rodgers said: "I got married in 1966 and moved to Hucknall and since then they have never stopped building. We lived on the Ruffs estate and all the green fields around there have been built on now.
"The Rolls Royce site is another example of what's been done. It's all about bringing people in but I don't think Hucknall has the infrastructure for it.
"We've seen some benefits - the bypass and the trams have benefited Hucknall. The Bypass is very helpful.
"But no, I don't think we have the infrastructure for thousands of people moving in. If you think that we'll have three or four people per house without roads being altered it'll be crazy.
"There ought to be some future planning involved. We had a Lidl planned to be built in Watnall Road but I don't know what's happened to that or if it's been started.
"It's impossible to get appointments at the GPs. That's why we switched to a new doctors but it's just the same."
Silvia Williams, 81, who lives in Palmers Avenue, said: "If you look around the town it's all just charity shops and barbers. We haven't got the facilities for all these people being moved in.
"I think we need more food shops definitely and some new shoe shops would be nice as we don't have any of those either. We've only got one bank too which makes things difficult.
"We've got the B&M store and the big Tesco down the road but really we're very limited in groceries. For people my age who can hardly walk and have to travel there it can be a struggle. I need my daughter to drive me most of the time.
"I think it's gone downhill. We've got two bookies, one bread shop which is nice, but we need more.
"It feels like we're being left behind."
Hucknall has seen proposals for the development of a huge number of homes recently. Plans have been put forward for more than 900 houses at the former Rolls Royce aerodrome site.
When plans to redevelop the former industrial site were put forward in 2013, it had been agreed that no more than 900 homes should be permitted at the site. However, if plans for the extra homes are approved, it would exceed the 900-home threshold that was approved years ago and instead take the total number to 975.
A controversial plan has also been put forward to create more than 3,000 houses on greenbelt land at Whyburn Farm in Hucknall as part of Ashfield District Council's draft Local Area Plan, which will see 8,226 homes in total built across the district of Ashfield between now and 2038. The proposal has been the target of furious backlash from residents.
Yet, not everybody is down about the prospect of more people being welcomed to Hucknall.
Frank Streets, 82, who has lived in Hucknall all his life, said: "I think it's changed for the better. You get massive queues outside most of the shops and I think people are happy to be here.
"I've always loved it here. We've got the B&M store which is great and everyone is friendly. I'm glad more people will be moving in - I think it's a great place to come to.
"There is a problem with the GPs, though, yes. Thousands of people can't get appointments and a lot of it is being done over the phone.
"That's something that I think needs to be addressed."
The wider areas around Hucknall has also been subject to housing proposals at sites in Wighay Farm, where 805 homes are planned, and Common Lane, which could see an extra 130 properties added to the area.
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