Limited Success for Green Space at Calow

In November 2020, we were alarmed to see an application submitted to North East Derbyshire District Council (NEDDC) for 217 houses on green fields adjacent to Dark Lane, Calow.

We submitted a strong objection, pointing out that:

• Firstly, the site was not identified as suitable for development either in the saved Local Plan or in the emerging Local Plan, which was nearing completion.
• Secondly, the development would encroach into an area outside the agreed settlement boundary for Calow village.
• And thirdly, it would mean a loss of valued countryside, and spoil a pleasant and much used green space, with far reaching views over undulating countryside.

We were very pleased to see that the council had carried out its own landscape assessment, which confirmed our stance that the larger development would be very detrimental to the rural character.  However, rather than turn down the application completely, the council invited the developer to reduce the proposed numbers quite considerably.  A new application was submitted for 80 dwellings. We are disappointed that the council has now approved the amended application, as we do not support development outside agreed settlement boundaries, which have not been included in Local Plans.  Nonetheless, we were pleased to have had some influence in limiting the damage which would have been caused by the building of 217 houses.

Now NEDDC has an approved Local Plan, we hope this means that a more recent planning application for 65 homes on the western side of Dark Lane, on a site not included in the Plan, will be turned down.  We objected to this development (NEDDC ref 21/00987/OL) too – it is on green fields in open countryside and would have a detrimental impact on the rural surroundings.  Many residents have submitted objections, pointing out that Dark Lane is a narrow rural road totally unsuited to the level of traffic development of this site would bring.

Let’s hope that the recent adoption of the Local Plan by the council will offer protection from speculative development on green field sites, including this latest at Dark Lane.