Long-term plan for Bassetlaw’s housing approved despite infrastructure worries

Bassetlaw District Council offices in Worksop
By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter

A plan which will guide housing and development in Bassetlaw for the next 14 years has been passed, but some unhappy residents feel it will lead to over-development.

The Local Plan sets out housing and business development sites across the district between now and 2038.

Bassetlaw District Council says it will ensure planning applications go in the right places, stopping speculative plans from developers and protecting the countryside.

However, dozens of residents turned up to protest the plan, saying there isn’t enough infrastructure to handle more homes.

The plan was approved at an extraordinary council meeting on Wednesday, May 29.

Councils have a legal duty to publish local plans, with Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up Michael Gove last year threatening government intervention if they don’t.

A meeting to approve the Bassetlaw Local Plan

The council’s leader, Cllr James Naish (Lab), told the meeting: “There are clear benefits for the district – greater control over the process planning and protecting communities from speculative applications on unsustainable areas.

“It would ensure an affordable housing supply for the elderly and strengthen the council’s ability to protect the countryside.

“Rejecting this plan wouldn’t prevent sites coming forward – it would leave the district vulnerable.”

The Local Plan replaces planning guidelines from more than a decade ago, with Cllr Naish saying decisions would now be made based on “Bassetlaw 2024, not Bassetlaw 2011.”

The Conservative group was allowed a free vote on the issue.

Cllr Emma Griffin (Con) abstained, saying she didn’t support the plan but worried about rejecting it.

“I have serious concerns about its impact on Tuxford, but recognise it offers protection for villages,” she said.

“These houses will be built in Bassetlaw either way – we will just have less control.”

Councillor John Manners (Con), who voted against, said: “I can’t support this plan for Retford, there’s just not the infrastructure there.”

After the meeting, residents said they were disappointed with the outcome.

Peter Pimperton, who lives next to a proposed 1,200-home development in Ordsall, said: “Our local Labour councillors told us they would vote against the Local Plan, but voted in favour tonight.

“Houses should be built in the right area, but there are so many that Bassetlaw is turning into one big village. There will be no countryside left in between them.

Stan Davis from Retford added: “There’s not enough infrastructure – the roads are going to be chaos, and the schools and doctors are going to be under pressure.”