Decision on plans for 45 houses in Southwell deferred by Newark and Sherwood District Council

A decision on 45-house development on former agricultural and allotment land has been deferred by councillors.

The reserved matters application, for land to the rear of The Vineries, Lower Kirklington Road, Southwell — lodged by Cameron Homes Ltd, Sir John Starkey, Keith Maxey, Katherine Maxey, John Judson, Ann Judson, and Richard Mullard — planned for a mixture of detached, semi detached and terraced properties and bungalows, with associated green spaces and a children’s play area.

Southwell Town Council has maintained its objection to the plans through multiple alterations.

The sixth iteration of the application received since October 2023, it was debated by Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee on Thurday, August 1.

A member of the public, Martin Cooper — a resident of neighbouring Private Drive — spoke on behalf of some neighbours and Southwell Civic Society.

He summarised: “We believe the application is not in accordance with the local [Southwell Neighbourhood] plan, and the remaining concerns highlighted by residents, town council, civic society and flood forum are too great to warrant approval of this application.”

He called for the application to be rejected for “fresh and more appropriate plans” to be created.

Concerns included surface water run-off, overlooking and lack of privacy due to layout, loss of ecology, large four and five bedroom homes — including a 28% increase in bedrooms from the outline application when planned upstairs studies are included.

The objection should not be considered NIMBYism, Mr Cooper claimed, as neighbours were not opposed to the 45-house development in general, just the current design.

Malcolm Brock also spoke at the meeting, to share comments on behalf of Southwell Town Council, and welcomed the inclusion of the item on the agenda as the planning process has taken a long time.

The council heard not much weight could be given to the latest neighbourhood plan — which calls for no further four and five bedroom houses — as it was still out for public examination, but officers could refer to the 2020 plan which had differing objectives.

Councillors spoke of the ecological mitigation which included the planting of over 80 new trees and creation of a grassland buffer to the western boundary, a hedgehog highway, bat boxes and bee bricks.

Linda Tift raised a concern that the inclusion of the larger properties had “compromised the space available to smaller properties”.

It was moved by Peter Harris and seconded by Penny Rainbow that the decision be deferred for further negotiation with the developer.

Andy Freeman stated: “I take the local concerns on board and I will put deferral to the vote, but I personally will not be supporting that.

“It’s going on and on and on… sooner or later a decision has to be made and this is later rather than sooner.”

Deferall was agreed with six in favour.

Peter Harris said: “There are some particular concerns, I think [plot] 37 is one which has changed position during the iteration. A relatively small change in plot 37 would I think accomodate a lot of the concerns in terms of the mix.

“I hope the agent is aware of the concerns.”

The reasons for deferall were given by Mr Harris as: “So an opportunity can be taken to address the very specific concerns on [housing] mix and the siting of a few of these potential developments.”

Emma Oldham also asked that the tree officer’s request for more information be included.

Mr Freeman added: “There is obviously a willingness in this room to get this right… the agent has heard what we have been talking about.

“A seventh [iteration] might get it over the line and I trust the developer and the agent will accept that in good faith… and hopefully come back to this committee pretty soon with a reserved matters application again.”