Application for another 87 homes on Bowbridge Road, Newark, deferred despite it being allocated for residential
An application for another 87 homes in an already busy part of Newark was deferred so planning members could decide reasonable grounds for refusal.
Newark and Sherwood District Council committee members said, despite the land at 293 Bowbridge Road being allocated for housing in 2013, they didn’t want another large development in the area that could add to congestion.
However, members were thwarted in their objection because their reasons for refusal — increased traffic and noise and air pollution — were not deemed reasonable by planning officer Lisa Hughes.
Chairman Roger Blaney also told the meeting the applicant would not go ahead with its developer contributions if plans were refused. Despite this, he urged members to vote only on planning merit.
Lisa Hughes said: “Nottingham Community Housing Association is the applicant and all dwellings will be affordable housing.
“There are a variety of house styles and there is open space to the north west, as well as a range of garden sizes — including larger ones for keen gardeners.”
She added there was an objection from Newark Town Council and one resident with the key issue being noise and traffic, but that the plans were still recommended for approval.
“The habitable rooms in the houses are furthest away from the source of the noise," said Lisa. "In the area of open space there will be some noise pollution, which is not the ideal place for people to relax. However, there would be acoustic windows.”
Ward member Mathew Skinner said: “This is the second application within my ward for a significant development in 12 months. I like the design, road layout and property styles, and it will bring the different types of houses we need.
“I’m slightly disappointed highways haven’t raised any concerns because I do take seriously what the town council said about accumulative impact.
“We know Bowbridge Road is a very fragile road and I hope if this is approved, it will give us more of a case in getting the Southern Link Road built, which would help matters.”
Another member of the committee, Maureen Dobson, said her concerns were with the build being very close to Tarmac Newark Concrete Plant on Bowbridge Lane, and the noise that would come with it.
“There is going to be dust and fumes,” she said.
The committee deferred the plan so it could provide more detailed and reasonable grounds for the application’s refusal.