Go ahead given for new apartments and church hall near Chesterfield

Derbyshire planners have given the go-ahead for 33 new homes in three apartment blocks and for a new church hall on an agricultural field despite a councillor’s fears of increased traffic and the effects for walkers using a popular trail.

NE Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee granted conditional planning permission on June 23 for Hipper Developments Ltd’s scheme for 33 apartments for people aged over 55 and for a new Gospel church hall to be built on land to the south of Chesterfield Road, in Holmewood, near Chesterfield.

The committee voted in favour of the scheme after hearing from a council planner that any harm caused by the development to the character of the area is outweighed by the benefits of developing the site for residential use despite concerns raised by Cllr Suzy Cornwell about increasing traffic and the feared impact on the Five Pits Trail.

Cllr Cornwell, who represents Holmewood and Heath, objected to the plans for 191 vehicle parking spaces at the church hall which are intended to discourage overspill parking beyond the site.

She stated: “This is a great deal of traffic that will come into Holmewood on specific days and specific times en masse.

“Although I understand this is likely to not be peak times, it will still have an impact on residents going about their everyday lives.

“If the main events only have 150 people, why is the need for this many car parking spaces? This level of transport usage will have a direct negative impact on wildlife on the Five Pits Trail which is directly next door.”

Cllr Cornwell also highlighted concerns about how the scheme and the area may accommodate a planned annual event at the church hall for up to 750 people as well as what she argued was a lack of evidence suggesting that there is a need for accommodation for people aged over 55.

In addition, she argued despite the proposed development sitting in the North Wingfield Parish an impact will be felt by residents in Holmewood only and by those using the nearby Five Pits Trail.

She also claimed feedback in a public consultation received a negative high score regarding plans for enhanced access to the Five Pits Trail, the aims to deliver new apartments designed over 55s, and the church hall’s design.

North Wingfield Parish Council stated that it too has concerns about the extra volume of traffic that will be generated by the development.

However, a council planners’ report stated that it had considered seven residents representations and six of which had offered supportive remarks and one had offered a general comment about the cumulative impact on the junctions at Temple Normanton and the general risk to highway safety.

The supportive comments, according to the report, included that the scheme was sympathetic to the environment and community, that providing over 55s homes gives something back to the community and provides much-needed properties with a welcomed improved access to the Five Pits Trail.

Council planners argued that the approximate 1.79hectare site was previously granted planning permission for up to 50 dwellings although no development was started so this permission appeared to have lapsed.

Derbyshire County Council’s highways and flood authorities, the Environment Agency, the Coal Authority, Yorkshire Water and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust also raised no objections subject to conditions.

Council planning officers pointed out the site lies within the Settlement Development Limit for Holmewood which is already allocated for housing and the scheme would contribute towards meeting the district’s overall housing requirement and more specifically the identified housing needs of older people.

Their report also stated that despite the church hall for the Plymouth Brethren posing some departures from the council’s Local Plan the authority is supportive in principle of new social infrastructure facilities.

A council spokesperson stated: “Overall officers are of the view that the proposal will result in a good use of the site which will deliver much needed housing for older people to the area as well as social infrastructure in the form of the church hall and as such these benefits outweigh the remaining harm of the elements of unusual design.”

The scheme is for 33 apartments, specifically for people aged 55 years and over, in three, three-storey high buildings, including a 20per cent provision of ‘affordable housing’ along with the church hall with a plaza and service yard, two associated accesses, roadways, parking, landscaping and a pond.

Council planners also stated that the site is located on a main bus route along Chesterfield Road and close to residential areas within the villages of Holmewood, North Wingfield and Heath.

The site is therefore considered to be a sustainable location which provides opportunity for access to public transport and active travel by cycle and on foot, according to council planners.

Plans also include room for cycle storage at each apartment block, according to the council planners, and adequate residents’ parking has been proposed with a bin storage area.

A council spokesperson added: “It is considered that, although the scheme will deliver 33 instead of the 40 hoped dwellings on the site, the loss in the number of delivered dwellings is outweighed by the delivery of specialist housing for which there is a shortfall in the district.

“Delivery of new social infrastructure is also supported by policy and as such, overall, it is considered that the principle of development is acceptable.”

The applicant has also proposed upgrades to the path which links the Five Pits Trail to Chesterfield Road to the south of the site.

They have agreed with Derbyshire County Council’s countryside service to carry out these works as part of a condition with the scheme.

Jonathan Brown, of the Chesterfield Gospel Hall Trust, said: “I have come to appreciate what makes North East Derbyshire a great place to live and work and my family have put down roots here and I feel deeply about the community.”

Mr Brown explained that efforts have been ongoing for several years to find a new site for a church hall because an existing site is not suitable for gatherings and he is determined for the scheme to make a contribution to the community.

He added: “It’s a comprehensive scheme and will deliver 33 apartments for people over 55 and meet a housing need while serving other parts of the community.”

Agent Charlotte Stainton, representing the applicant, also pointed out that 20per cent of the scheme’s apartments will represent affordable housing and the scheme will also provide an enhanced footpath to the Five Peaks Trail and financial contributions towards the community.

The planning committee voted unanimously to grant conditional planning permission for the scheme subject to an agreement to secure community infrastructure contributions from the developer including for cricket provision at Old Colliery Lane, Holmewood, for 3G provision and for Travel Plan monitoring.

Other key conditions include an improved pedestrian access track linking Chesterfield Road to the Five Pits Trail, a Construction Management Plan, a Construction Environmental Management Plan, a lighting strategy, a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan, a Species Enhancement Plan and agreed operational times for the use of the church hall.