More homes on way

Plans for 90 homes close to a nature conservation area in Bingham have been submitted.

A major landowner in the town, the Crown Estate, has put forward the plans to Rushcliffe Borough Council to build a mixture of houses and flats on 6.8 acres off Tythby Road.

The triangular shaped site is opposite the Mill Hill housing development and the former railway line, now a wooded conservation area. Linear Park runs alongside it.

The design will see 21/2-storey blocks of flats and two-storey terrace houses built, and 135 parking spaces created.

A spokesman for the Crown Estate, Mr Al Hanagan, said some of the flats would be used in key locations, such as the site entrance and on corner plots, to create focal points.

A series of linked streets and spaces would be created to allow easier access, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.

Mr Hanagan said they hoped at least one footpath would lead to Linear Park, but this would need to be discussed with the Friends Of Linear Park group who look after the park.

All the homes would be at least 25% more energy efficient than those built to normal standards and would incorporate recycling facilities, increased sound insulation, sustainable drainage systems and cycle storage areas.

The majority of the existing trees and hedges will remain and more will be planted along the southern boundary of the site to help reduce traffic noise from the A52.

Mr Hanagan said if outline planning permission was granted they would work towards a more detailed application and then select a housing developer to carry out the work, as they did with the Mill Hill development.

Miller Homes Ltd secured the contract to build 453 homes on the 29-acre site and work is expected to be completed in the next two or three years.

It is hoped work on the new development could start in 2011 to coincide with the end of that project.

Miller Homes gave Bingham Town Council £1.2m as part of an agreement in the approval of its development.

Mr Hanagan said if these plans get the go-ahead, a significant contribution would be made to Bingham’s Community Chest.

The application will be discussed at a Bingham Town Council meeting on Tuesday but the final decision will be made by the borough council.

The public have until Thursday to put forward their views.