By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans for a major housing development in a Nottinghamshire village have been submitted.
Applicant Avant Homes has applied to Broxtowe Borough Council to build 250 homes including areas of open space and a children’s play area.
If approved, the homes would be built on five former agricultural fields in the village of Awsworth, near Ilkeston.
Outline planning permission for the development has already been granted this year, meaning that the detailed plans still need to be approved by the planning committee.
There will be a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom homes with 20 per cent being affordable housing.
The homes would be built to the west of Awsworth in Shilo Way, with a secondary access from Newtons Lane.
The Whitehouse Farm building which once stood on the site has now been demolished.
Councillor Michael Smith, Vice Chair of Awsworth Parish Council, said the plans have “long been anticipated”.
He added: “We now know that Avant Homes are the single preferred developer. The layout of the site is not a surprise to me.
“There’s no easy way to integrate 250 new homes with the existing village, in particular the housing estate which is on the edge of the site. It is difficult and we have our own issues with access.
“At the moment we don’t have a set response date to the plans but we will be looking to reply as a parish council.
“Broxtowe Borough Council are the planning authority and they will make the decision but we will make our comments in due course.”
Building for a Healthy Life, a design code which helps developers to improve the design of new neighbourhoods, said the plans would encourage new residents to walk or use bikes.
They added that the development has been designed to allow people to spend time outdoors and encourage exercise.
Plans by the developer Avant Homes state: “Dwellings are proposed over-looking all prominent areas of public realm to enhance the visual impact of the open space but also to provide surveillance.
“Specific house types have been positioned at key corners in order to animate the street and address corners effectively.
“Key frontages have been carefully considered to enhance prominent areas and ensure a strong identity is created for the development.”
Broxtowe Borough Council will make a decision on the plans at a future planning committee.
