By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 100 news homes will be built on long-derelict land close to a police custody centre despite concerns over traffic and flooding.
Councillors granted full planning permission for a residential development of 114 build-to-rent homes in Radford Road on Wednesday, May 18.
The application was submitted by Marrons Planning on behalf of Strata Homes.
The site is the northern part of the former British Gas Works area on the western side of Radford Road, close to the new multi-million pound police custody suite.
Nottingham City Council says the site is “undeveloped, disused and overgrown and has been vacant for many years”.
There would be 71 two-bedroom homes and 43 three-bedroom homes. Parking would be provided at the front of the properties.
The proposal has been amended since an original submission, providing pedestrian links, crossings, and public and private green spaces.
Footpaths within the site would be connected to the existing highway and bus stop.
Residents had raised some concerns over traffic issues, such as difficulties turning right out of Silverdale onto Radford Road with the ring road likely to become “busier and more dangerous”.
At a council planning meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Toby Neal (Lab) said this was his “biggest concern”.
He said: “My biggest concern is traffic and what is happening on that ring road. It forces everyone on to that road.
“I genuinely welcome this application. It is an interesting use of a site that has sat there for a long time.”
Cllr Graham Chapman (Lab), vice-chair of the planning committee, added: “I have been dealing with this site since it was vacant in the 1990s.
“I have not got a problem with the layout, the issues I have got is boundary treatment.
“It is going to be private rented, and you are going to get a higher turnover of people. With private-rented, people will not take ownership of gardens and communal space so who is going to maintain it?”
Cllr Sally Longford (Lab) also raised concerns about flooding as the site sits close to the river.
The Environment Agency’s flood map for planning shows the site lies within Flood Zones 1, 2, and 3 (low, medium, and high risk).
The council says the application has been supported by a detailed Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) which shows the site and surrounding area are at medium to high risk of flooding from the River Leen and Day Brook.
Proposed flood mitigation measures are being negotiated with the Environment Agency and council to reach a solution.
She said: “I really want to see new houses on brownfield sites, but this is on the banks of the river prone to flooding.”
She said it was important that “flood risk is taken into account”.
She also feared that the alleyways around the homes could become a dumping ground for fly-tippers if they were not well-secured.
This was also echoed by Cllr Michael Edwards (Lab), chair of the planning committee.
He said: “We are delighted by people who come here with housing (applications). We want the houses but not all the problems that come with the space.”
Council officers reassured councillors that there would be a long-term maintenance plan for the site before homes were occupied.
Councillors granted planning permission on Wednesday, May 18.
