By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Councillors praised a developer for working with them to amend plans and address their concerns as they approved 38 new affordable homes in Kirkby.
Ashfield District Council’s planning committee approved Nasims Ltd’s plans for the properties at land off Laburnum Avenue on July 26.
This came four months after the committee delayed taking a decision over concerns about highway safety, parking and future amenities of some homes.
However, when discussing the plans again this week, they praised the applicant for ensuring the new proposals were “what we want” from the scheme.
The committee heard three separate sets of amendments were submitted to the council following the deferral in March.
All amendments addressed various parts of specific housing plots amidst concerns.
In the meeting on Wednesday, six out of nine members of the committee were supportive of the plans and voted in favour of approval.
Cllr Samantha Deakin (Ash Ind), who represents Central Sutton and New Cross, said: “The applicant has worked with us every step of the way on this.
“I now think the development there is what we’ve asked for because they’ve worked with us to get the best out of it that we can.”
Two others said they were “still not sure” and voted against it, with one member abstaining from the vote.
The abstention came from Cllr Jason Zadrozny (Ash Ind), the authority’s leader, who said he thought the plans were “much improved”.
However, he asked for the parking arrangements of one home to be amended to prevent cars from reversing onto the busy nearby Mill Lane.
This call was supported by council officers and will be added to planning conditions at a later date.
Letters of objection and concerns raising fears about the proposal were submitted in response to each set of amendments lodged by the applicant.
However, the number of concerns reduced with each amendment submitted by the applicant.
In its final format, they were limited to the impact on roads, air quality, biodiversity and fears over a loss of light and privacy.
In the meeting, an objection was also read out from Edward Oswick, who lives directly next to the site on Laburnum Avenue, about the impact on his home.
Reading his objection, Cllr Rachel Madden (Ash Ind), one of the two councillors to vote against the plans, said: “We formally object to the use of our existing fenceline for the house at plot 22.
“We have suggested a pathway to the rear of houses 22, 21 and 20 would resolve the issue as has been suggested numerous times.”
In response to the objection, Mick Morley, a senior council planning officer, said: “Some of the homes are semi-detached and have access [to the rear].
“If you have a path to serve the back of the properties, you’re almost creating an alley route which is something we don’t want to promote due to crime issues.”
Nottinghamshire County Council, the highways authority, raised no objections to the plans in their most recent format.
It means the 38 homes – which will be completely made up of affordable homes controlled by a housing association – can now come forward.
They will primarily be accessed from Mill Lane, apart from four homes which will be based on Laburnum Avenue near its corner junction with Church Hill.
These four homes will feature a small car parking area to prevent on-street parking or traffic issues on Laburnum Avenue.
The authority is also asking for nearly £181,000 in developer contributions to support bus stop, healthcare and open space improvements.
The existing traveller site located on the land will be retained through the plans, the meeting also heard.
