Mansfield District Council in support of Ashfield's Local Plan

Mansfield District Council has submitted a response in support of Ashfield's controversial draft housing plan.

The authority has praised several proposals within the document, stating plans will "help support [Mansfield's] vitality and viability".

Ashfield District Council's plan, which outlines where 8,226 homes will be built between now and 2038, has been met with fierce opposition from numerous residents' groups.

The plan includes two major settlements, a 3,000-home development on Hucknall's greenbelt at Whyburn farm, and a further 1,000 houses on greenfield at Cauldwell Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, near its Mansfield border.

Both settlements, if they went ahead, would come with a primary school and other community facilities.

Concerns have been raised about the proposals, with residents in both towns feeling the developments are in the wrong place.

However, in its consultation response, Mansfield District Council spoke favourably about the Cauldwell Road plan.

A document due to be approved on Friday, November 12, says: "Whilst this site is not directly on the border with Mansfield district, it is in close proximity and is likely to look towards Mansfield for certain services and jobs.

"As such, the additional visitors to Mansfield town centre from this development are welcomed to help support its vitality and viability.

"It will be important for public transport services to be provided into Mansfield, as well as into Ashfield district."

It adds the settlement's close links to the 1,700-home Lindhurst Development, the new Amazon warehouse at Summit Park, and homes planned near West Nottinghamshire College, creates an "appropriate location for this level of development".

But the comments come just a week after campaigners raised concerns about the Cauldwell Road plans and the potential impact on residents and businesses.

Laura Gapski, owner of Bright Sparks Day Nursery on Derby Road, has been campaigning to stop the plan.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the development would impact her own and nearby businesses, and affect the wellbeing of residents.

Her campaign group, Residents and Businesses Against Cauldwell Road Development, has set up a petition calling for the plan to be scrapped, with people in the area feeling "betrayed" by the Ashfield Independents administration.

She added: "It's going to cause tremendous business disruption to us, to Coxmoor Golf Club and Sherwood Observatory, and disruption for local people.

"Residents are lobbying together to petition, object, and meet with local councillors to express disappointment and concerns over the plan.

"It can't happen here, and it's not going to happen here."

Councillor Matt Relf (Ash Ind), Ashfield's portfolio holder responsible for the plan, represents Sutton Junction and Harlow Wood, where the Cauldwell Road development would be based.

He said last week the council will "be looking at every response" to the ongoing consultation.

He expects there "will be changes made" once the consultation comes to an end on November 16.

Mansfield District Council's response to the local plan is due for approval during a delegated decision by Cllr Stuart Richardson, portfolio holder for regeneration and growth, on Friday.