Keen for more homes

A developer wants to almost triple the number of homes allowed on an historic site in Southwell, it has been reported.

The news that Kean Construction, of North Muskham, wants to increase the already-approved 13 homes to 37, at the former Minster School site on Church Street, has sparked fears of a possible adverse impact on Roman remains there.

The chairman of Southwell Civic Society, Mr Mike Struggles, has seen the latest plans.

“We are worried that the houses might damage the remains and if they don’t damage them then they will cover them, so it could be hundreds of years before people can come and look at them,” Mr Struggles said.

“There are so many places we can build houses but so few Roman remains in England.”

He said he was unable to discuss specific information until after the plans had been submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council because they could change.

He said they were offered the chance to see them early as it was probably the most important site in the town, as it was next to the Archbishop’s Palace and the minster.

“One might argue it is a pity that the school had to sell the site for housing because houses can be built anywhere,” Mr Struggles said.

“It seems wrong to build them over Roman remains which could be used for educational and tourism purposes.”

The director of Kean Construction, Mr Keith Roberts, was on holiday this week and unavailable for comment.

The company’s website says the Church Street development is still in the pre-planning stage and would offer homes, ranging from one-bedroom apartments to six-bedroom luxury homes.

The homes would cost from £195,000 to more than £1m.

The Church Street site was opened as part of the Minster School in October 1964, and it was while buildings were being erected that the remains of a Roman villa were found.

The junior department was based on the site, where there was two single-storey buildings, a large school hall and several temporary classrooms.

The last lessons there were in July before pupils moved to the new £34.2m building on Nottingham Road in September.

The former school playing field will be rented to Southwell Town Council from Nottinghamshire County Council for 99 years, at £4,000 a year.

The homes will be on the rest of the site

Town councillor Mr Brendan Haigh said he had not seen the latest plans but if there were more homes there would be more issues to consider.

He said the main considerations would be access and potential flooding problems.

“These are the two main issues that come to mind but obviously we would be looking at how any extra number of houses would effect the Roman remains under the site, but until we see the actual plans we wouldn’t want to prejudge the application,” Mr Haigh said.

Other considerations would be normal aspects of planning such as house design and the correct mix of lower-cost homes.

Mr Haigh said in the past Kean Construction declined an invitation to discuss their plans at a public meeting.

He would ask the planning committee if they would invite the developers again.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has not yet received any revised plans but Kean Construction approached the council for confidential advice on making a new application.

The district council will decide any new application.