Residents 'angry' over new homes development on Chesterfield green fields

People in Calow say they are ‘angry, upset and stressed’ about new plans for 65 homes off Dark Lane.

They say the proposed development, which is being considered by North East Derbyshire District Council, will cause traffic problems, including a danger to school children, noise and light pollution, an increased strain on local amenities and threat to wildlife.

Residents’ spokesperson Jason Flaxman, who lives on Netherleigh Cottages, off Dark Lane, said: “As residents we are again confronted with a building firm placing a planning application to build a number of houses, on farm land, in our local village of Calow.

"This is after years of stress with numerous other similar applications and a proposed gas exploration site.”

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The 65 homes plan, put forward by Stancliffe Homes, is on fields north and north west of the Homestead, Dark Lane, and lies next to the site of an 80-home development already agreed by councillors.

The Woodall Homes development, bordering Oaks Farm Lane, was signed off by North East Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee in June.

"This latest development will cause a significant increase of traffic in the Calow area, in particular the junction of Dark Lane and Top Road,” Jason added.

"The proposed entrance to this development is on a bend where visibility is significantly reduced, and the road is a single-track lane.

"We feel this will not only cause disruption to residents but could result in a serious vehicle accident.

"On weekday mornings there are several school children that cross this particular junction, including my own son.

"In addition to this, the proposed development will cause increased light pollution, increased noise levels, disruption to wildlife, increased risk of flooding and additional strain on local amenities.

"In recent, well attended, resident meetings, it was clear there was strong resentment against the proposed plans, residents were angry, upset and stressed.

"Again, the residents of Calow are being targeted by building companies whose only intention is to make money and have no consideration for residents’ feelings or wellbeing.”

Calow Parish Council opposed earlier developments in the area and said it was becoming ‘very concerned’ at the pressure set to be put on local amenities and the likely ‘destruction of wildlife on green fields surrounding Calow’.

"We would like the planners to take in to account the existing housing development applications already granted, although not yet built, when making a decision on this latest application," Coun Sabido added.

A Stancliffe Homes spokesperson said: “Following a request from a local councillor, a representative of Stancliffe Homes met with a group of local residents to respond to queries and concerns that they have in connection with our proposals.

"All matters of a technical nature have been thoroughly addressed by our technical experts and submitted as part of the application.”

As part of its planning statement with the application, the company stated: “Stancliffe Homes have listened to the concerns of residents and provided corresponding assessments to support the outline planning application.

"Mitigation measures are proposed where necessary to provide a high-quality sustainable development.”

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