Yorke Drive regeneration approved in Newark after years of delays
Older housing will be demolished to make way for new homes and park and leisure space will be improved.
By Latifa Yedroudj, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
A major regeneration project of 207 new homes in Newark has been given the go-ahead after years of delays.
Newark & Sherwood Council has given final approval to the Yorke Drive Estate Regeneration scheme.
It will see the demolition of old and derelict homes, a new sports pavilion and upgrades to a sports pitch on the Lincoln Road Playing Field site along Lincoln Road, north east of the town centre.
The original planning application was first submitted in December 2018 and approved by Newark and Sherwood District Council in November 2019.
Both the council and developer Lovell Partnership are working together on the project.
However, the project faced years of delays due to several problems including changes in policy, parking spaces and layout designs.
Revised plans were submitted on October 2024 to make the scheme compliant with road requirements, Sport England requests and other planning points.
It was given the final green light at a planning committee meeting on Thursday, February 13.
Some of the social homes due to be demolished have people living in them, who the council plans to offer relocation and purchase options in the new development
Cllr Emma Oldham (Grn) praised the council’s approval of the development, but raised concerns about wildlife and ecology at the site.
She said: “We are losing 66 per cent of trees on site currently, and while I appreciate 340 new trees will be going in, I’m struggling to find details [of the size of trees].
“While the species are listed, it’s an impressive mix and it’s very beneficial to the area.
“There is a conflict on the time scale of the trees being replaced.
“Our climate is getting harsher, and trees are getting strained more than ever.”
She questioned whether “too much” space was being taken by sporting activities, saying the “balance feels off”.
Referring to the sports pitches, Cllr David Moore (Ind) said: “A much as they’re football pitches, it’s flat open land.”
They will be multi-purpose for other non-sport related activities, such as picnics and dog walking, he added.
Yorke Drive is a housing estate with 355 homes and a sports pavilion next to playing fields.
The development will see a total of 130 homes demolished together along with the existing sports pavilion, and a row of garages.
A total of 207 new homes will be built in their place, including 18 one-bed apartments, 54 two-bed houses, 117 three-bed houses and 18 four-bed houses.
Out of the 207 homes, 74 of will be designated as affordable housing, while the other 133 will be private housing.
Residents who wish to remain on the estate and within the first phase of demolition would be given priority to be rehoused.
The proposal will provide 878 resident car parking spaces, and 28 visitor parking spots.
There will be a further 90 spaces for the sports pavilion – up from the previous 68 proposed car parking spaces.
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