Policy bid to save houses

A new local planning policy could be drawn up in a bid to try to stop traditional colliery houses in the Ollerton area being turned into flats.

Ollerton and Boughton Town Council is looking to introduce its own policy, which could help to stop these homes, dating back from the 1920s, being converted into flats by developers.

The conversions have been heavily criticised by councillors, who want to protect the houses, which were once homes for mine workers.

There are about 700 of them in the area in total.

The leader of the town council, Mr Ben Wells, said the policy aimed to retain the character of the area by objecting to the three-bedroomed houses being converted.

Mr Wells, who is also a district councillor for Ollerton, said there appeared to be an increasing number applications to convert former colliery houses into flats being put forward to Newark and Sherwood District Council.

He said he felt they were not necessary because new developments were being created in the area.

He said that these kind of developments were removing affordable housing — potentially for young families — from the market.

He said: “It seems to be a rolling stone gathering momentum.

“It is destroying the character of the colliery village and causing nuisance to other residents.

“These houses are some of the best-built colliery houses in the country.”

Mr Wells has also raised further concern about the potential parking problems these kind of flats would create.

Mr Wells said they would be discussing the policy further at the town council planning committee meeting on Tuesday.

Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning services manager, Mr Peter Wilkinson, said: “Any policy introduced by town and parish councils, which are statutory consultees on planning applications, would be a material consideration before a planning decision is reached.

“National and local planning policies must also be given due regard by planners.

“The decision of the planning inspector regarding any appeals against decisions to reject conversion of homes to flats could guide future decisions on similar applications.”