‘Bonkers’ plan for new homes where residents ‘can’t open their …
Plans to build homes next to two industrial estates which operate 24/7 have been rejected after noise concerns from councillors. The scheme, submitted by Shelby Construction (Midlands) Limited, aimed to build 14 homes on vacant land off Cadley Hill Road in Church Gresley[1].
At a South Derbyshire District Council meeting this week, councillors rejected the plans due to issues with noise and a reduction in trees. The proposed plot would sit between two industrial estates, which stem off Hearthcote Road and Ryder Close, hosting numerous businesses, including the council’s own bin lorry depot.
Such is the noise in the area, deemed to be in the “high end of acceptable” by council environmental health officials, residents of the homes would be told to keep their windows and doors closed, with “mechanical ventilation” providing fresh air. Walton Wilkins, who lives next to the proposed site, said a row of trees which had bordered the site, on surrounding plots, had now been cut down and would no longer provide any noise suppression.
He said retained trees on a plan submitted by the applicants appear to be in his garden, but he does not have any trees. Planting along the boundary with his home is removed and his property would be fully exposed, he said.
He said estate agents would not warn the potential buyers of the new homes about existing noise issues. Mr Wilkins said: “‘Don’t open your windows at night’, ‘don’t sit in your garden at night’. Nobody is going to tell them about this.”
An agent speaking on behalf of the applicants said that no trees would be removed along the site boundary, but hedgerows would be cut back. Acoustic fencing would be installed to mitigate the impact of noise, he said, and internal and external noise impact was deemed to be acceptable.
He said: “This application has been with the council since June 2020 and the applicant is keen to deliver much-needed housing in a sustainable location.”
Cllr Alan Haynes said: “Even the factory is not happy about these plans going ahead and we have already had objections from residents. Why are we asking children to go to Stanton Primary School a mile and a half away when we have our own primary in Church Gresley itself?”
He said there was no capacity left in the area’s primary schools to take further children, with mass development taking place on the former Cadley colliery Stretching from Stanton and Newhall to Swadlincote. Keystone Lintels, which dominates much of the neighbouring industrial estate immediately to the southwest of the proposed housing site, filed an objection, saying having homes 20 metres from its site would restrict its ability for further expansions on the site, for both longer hours and further production.
It said there would be a “significant adverse” noise impact from the site on the proposed new residents.
Cllr Amy Wheelton said: “We need to protect our businesses and we need to support housing. Do we really need children living in houses where they can’t open their windows, where they cannot play outside because it is too noisy? I don’t think so. I just think it is bonkers. We need houses with windows that open and we need to support our businesses.”
Councillors refused the plans by a vote of nine to three, due to the inadequacy of the proposed landscaping to mitigate the scheme and noise impact on would-be residents.
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References
- ^ Church Gresley (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Police and fire service issue statements after car ploughs into Burton house (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Applause and cheering as Swadlincote killer sent down for life (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
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