Housing priorities are the ‘hot topic’

The order of priority Derbyshire Dales District Council had given to sites in the area was the main point of contention at a recent meeting of the Local Plan Advisory Committee.

Land off Asker Lane, Chesterfield Road and Smedley Street had all been given priority one status following an assessment by officers which took into account issues such as ecology, access to public transport and flood risk.

Following public outcry the land at Hall Dale Quarry was added to the list of potential sites, for up to 100 new homes.

Frederick Burgess, of Cavendish Road, Matlock, was the first resident to address the committee.

He questioned why sites such as the former Maddisons site and Twiggs had been deemed to be in danger of flooding when the proposed development for Bakewell road would have to same risk.

Paul Wilson, director of planning and housing services, responded to recent claims by some residents that the council was looking at building on greenfield site before all the brownfield sites had been considered.

“There are no brownfield sites which have been omitted,” he explained.

“The council must demonstrate that it’s got sufficient land available to develop for housing over five years.”

At the end of the meeting members voted to change the priority level of Asker Lane to four and Chesterfield Road to three.

The land at Bentley Bridge, Matlock, was also change from priority three to priority two.

Butts Drive, in Matlock, was changed from three to four and Pump Close, off Starkholmes Road, was changed from three to four.