Hucknall campaigners perplexed after planning application for greenfield site in Mansfield is rejected whilst Whyburn Farm development could still happen

Campaigners against plans for Hucknall's greenbelt to have 3000 houses built on it have been left perplexed at another local authority's decision to refuse a planning application on greenfield sites being upheld by the Government on environmental grounds.

Last week the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that previously refused plans to build 204 homes at Gregory Quarry, off Nottingham Road had again been turned down following an appeal.

Mansfield District Council's planning committee unanimously refused the development, when councillors met in July last year.

This decision was appealed by the applicant but the Government's planning inspectorate Siobhan Watson sided with the Council's original decision.

In her report, she said: "Whilst there are some benefits to the scheme, including the provision of market and affordable housing, these do not outweigh the cumulative harm I have found.

"The loss of the [green infrastructure], whatever type of habitat existed, and the harm to local greenspace and community open space, are sufficient to make the scheme unacceptable even without the additional biodiversity harm.

"The proposal, therefore, conflicts with the development plan as a whole and does not represent sustainable development."

However, members of local group, Hucknall Against Whyburn Farm Development (HAWFD) were left feeling perplexed after learning of the decision.

These feelings weren't because they wanted the Mansfield development to go ahead but because they are confused that these plans have been rejected yet plans to build 15 times the number of houses on greenbelt land, which is supposed to be more protected than greenfield, to protect urban sprawl, is currently still on Ashfield District Council's Local Plan.

The Plan is currently paused whilst the Council wait for clarification from the Government on whether or not they plan to amend their housing targets. 

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, a spokesperson for HAWFD said: "A brownfield site of just over 200 houses gets rejected, quite rightly on its environmental damage and gets upheld by the Government's inspectorate.

"Reading Ms Watson's feedback on the damage that it would do to a much smaller brownfield site magnified 10-12 times on Whyburn site which is massive, which has more protected species, far more wildlife, and has far more public use, it's a public utility. I just found it shameful that Ashfield District Council haven't made the same decision immediately; I still do.

"I think it's a financial decision with all the Ashfield District Councillors, I think the illusion that there aren't enough brownfield sites to build the Government targets on, no they're not but there are enough greenfield sites land banked by investors who would sell them if Whyburn Farm wasn't infinitely more profitable. Sutton Junction places like that, they're going to get 200,000 a house what are they going to get on Whyburn for the views up there, £350,000, £400,000?

"It's infinitely more profitable and I don't knock the builders and developers for doing that they've got shareholders to answer to but our local authority who are doing it for the rateable value on those properties they get more income from the houses. The fact that in Hucknall they can build a £350,000 house and put it in a higher rates band than if they built those Government housing figures on greenfield sites I think is wrong. They're destroying the environment."

For more information about the HAWFD group, view their website by clicking here.