Part-retrospective planning consent sought for Traveller site off Main Street, Balderton
A planning application, part retrospective, has been submitted for a Gypsy and Traveller site on land granted planning permission for flats.
The application has been submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council for the material change of use of the land off Main Street, Balderton, "for stationing of caravans for residential occupation with associated development (new access, hard standing, utility block) part retrospective."
Concerns had been raised that ground works carried out on the land were not in keeping with what would be laid ready for the construction of flats, but were akin to those that caravans would require for pitches and utilities, and were reported to the district council as potential infringements of planning law.
The application has been made by landscaper Patrick Doherty for him, his wife and their four children and the agent is the leading leading Gypsy and Traveller site planning consultant, Alison Heine.
The application says the Dohertys have lived on an unauthorised site on Tolney Lane for the past seven months but don't want to remain there because of the flood risk.
Prior to that, they were living on a site at Radcliffe that was said to be overcrowded.
The application says a day room would have the appearance of a bungalow and be far less imposing than the two-storey apartments granted planning permission for the 0.8 hectare site in 2018.
It says it is part retrospective as vegetation has been cleared, hard standing added an the site enclosed by fencing.
It argues that there is strong need for an increased number of Gypsy and Traveller pitches in Newark and Sherwoof to help meet demand.
A spokesman for Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “The council is aware that initial ground works have taken place on land at Main Street, Balderton, which has planning permission for the erection of six flats.
"Officers have inspected the land and continue to liaise with colleagues and other agencies to ensure any unacceptable breaches of planning control are responded to in an appropriate and proportionate manner.”