Councillors opposing a plan for up to 350 new homes have highlighted shortcomings in the applicant’s consultation with villagers and the wider community.

Cllr Dawn Taylor, who represents Inkersall on the county council, is leading campaigners against the proposal for the site adjacent to Bamford Road, south of Inkersall Green.

She has launched a Stop The Development Off Bamford Road group and shared with the Derbyshire Times the following key points from a public meeting which she organised this week:

*Lack of consultation; residents have little time to put their views across. Cllr Taylor said: “I would like to know why this development is being rushed through – it was put in at the end of June with a decision at the end of the month.”

Opponents of the plan to build up to 350 homes in fields adjacent to the narrow Bamford Road at Inkersall Green highlighted their concerns at a public meeting

placeholder image — Opponents of the plan to build up to 350 homes in fields adjacent to the narrow Bamford Road at Inkersall Green highlighted their concerns at a public meeting

*Bamford Road is too narrow to carry the amount of traffic the proposed development will entail.

*Gladman (the applicant) is a broker who gets planning consent then sells the land. Cllr Taylor said: “Whoever buys it are not bound by the plans, i.e. they won’t have to put infrastructure in, that will in turn put more strain on the resources of the village”.

*There are enough developments already around Inkersall and residents feel that the village doesn’t need any more.

In correspondence with Chesterfield Borough Council, who will decide on the outline application, Cllr Taylor writes: “As the county councillor for south Staveley and a resident of the Bamford Road estate I am requesting to be heard at the board meeting when this planning application is decided as I am totally against for many reasons, but more so because many residents on my estate do not want this development and feel there is enough developments around Inkersall now.

"Bamford Road is totally unsuitable for lorries; the road is too narrow as I know after asking for white lines to be put on the road. The safety on the corner as you come into Bamford Road has so many near misses, it is so tight.”

Four representatives of Staveley Town Council – Cllrs Barry Dyke, Allan Ogle, Steve Taylor and Mick Bagshaw – attended the well-attended public meeting which the county councillor organised at The Hollies community centre. Cllr Bagshaw said: “We were from three different parties, all working together to show a united front for the residents who thanked us for giving them pointers. We can support them but we alone as councillors can’t stop the application – power is in the people.”

Cllr Bagshaw, who represents Duckmanton and is a former Inkersall councillor on the town, borough and county councils, shared his concern about the community consultation carried out by the applicant. He said: “They distributed leaflets, which nobody at the meeting had seen. They wrote to Staveley Town Council, the letter arrived after the council meeting. They wrote to two borough councillors – Barry Dyke and Jacqui Ridgeway – councillors who don’t represent Inkersall. They wrote to the MP and set up an on-site meeting with him – residents weren’t informed about this.”

A community involvement report from Gladman Development Ltd, published on the borough council’s planning portal on June 25, 2026 said: “Leaflets outlining the development proposals, together with details of our dedicated consultation website and how to submit comments, were distributed on May 14, 2026 to approximately 737 households and businesses within the proximity of the site.

"Gladman wrote to Staveley Town Council with details of the draft proposals, including copies of the consultation leaflet on May 19. At the time of writing, a response has not been received from the Town Council.

"Gladman wrote to Staveley Ward Councillors Jacqueline Ridgway and Barry Dyke to provide details of the consultation and a copy of the consultation leaflet on May 19. At the time of writing, no responses have been received from either of the ward councillors.

"Gladman wrote to the local MP Toby Perkins to provide details of the consultation and a copy of the consultation leaflet on May 19. Toby Perkins MP responded to Gladman on June 10, 2026, requesting a meeting to discuss the proposals to the site. At the time of writing, a meeting was organised to take place at land off Bamford Road, Inkersall Green on July 13, 2026.”

The MP has accepted an invitation from Cllr Paul Mann, who lives in the village, to meet with residents on Thursday, July 16, at 7pm in St Columba Church, Inkersall.

A town councillor for Hollingwood, Cllr Mann has requested permission to speak at the relevant borough council planning committee meeting. He wrote to the borough authority: “For information, I know the procedures as I used to sit on it. I will be speaking out against the application for Inkersall residents as a councillor and as a resident.”

The proposal to develop the site has re-emerged nearly seven years after Gladman Developments Ltd withdrew a planning application to build 350 homes on the arable fields.