Newark and Sherwood District Council approves plan for environmental mansion around 13 times bigger than average house
Councillors who delayed a decision on plans for a home that would be around 13 times larger than an average-sized house have granted it permission.
At their last planning meeting, members of Newark and Sherwood District Council considered an application to demolish a house and replace it with a 13,000sq ft ‘stately home of the future’ in Epperstone.
Members agreed a site visit was necessary given the sheer scale of the development at Hill House, Chapel Lane, and that it would encroach on the greenbelt — so decided to defer the plans.
This time around, having visited the site, planning members were reminded by officer Lisa Hughes that the property’s unique and outstanding design could be considered as special circumstances, and therefore be allowed within the greenbelt.
Mrs Hughes said: "I referred the application to the Secretary of State [because of the size of the development in the greenbelt] who has decided not to call it in, so, members can make a decision on it tonight."
The huge home would be created in linear blocks which cut into the landscape as it rises.
There would be an extensive replanting and landscaping scheme resulting in a biodiversity net gain, double of what is required in policy.
Member Rhona Holloway said: "I really like the this development, it's innovative, creative, sustainable, green and very environmentally aware — I very much like it so I'm in favour."
Malcolm Brock said: "At the last meeting many may recall my response to an application tabled then and that it flew in the face of greenbelt policy — so does this in many respects.
"But I think it's bold, ambitious, green and has many architectural merits. It is big certainly but I think it does blend into the cortour and the landscape, but I don't particularly like it.
"However, on objective grounds, I think yes it is an exception and therefore I will support it."
Tim Wildgust added he liked the way it would be embedded within the landscape.
"We do listen to people's concerns and particularly we were looking down footpath two, seeing what the impact could be and I couldn't see it being a major issue," he said.
"But that could be resolved by additional screening if that was a concern the parish had. I think it's innovative, green and in the future I think it could be a listed building."
Planning chairman Roger Blaney said ward member Roger Jackson requested to speak at the committee, but that he had been injured by a horse.
"I can see this being of exceptional quality and being a very real addition to the architectural standing within Newark and Sherwood," he said.
"I'm with councillor Wildgust, I think it has all the potential in 25, 30 years time — if Historic England are still with us — to be listed, bringing its own challenges to future owners.
"I have no hesitation in supporting it."
The committee approved the plans, with one abstention.
