Villagers have voiced their views about a potential plan for up to 580 new homes on Green Belt land in north Derbyshire.

Barrow Hill residents attended a public meeting about a proposal to develop fields off Whittington Road, New Whittington. While a formal bid for planning permission has not yet been tendered, campaigners are preparing a case against housing development on the site should an application be submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council.

Cllr Mark Cliff, who is county councillor for Staveley North and Whittington, said that the meeting attracted around 20 residents who were all very vocal and raised some good points. He said: “Primary among those were flooding run-off and amenities. One gentleman had produced a map showing Barrow Hill has only one corner type shop, no doctors or dentists and very limited school placement available.

"The increase in traffic flow raised great concern as well and raised calls for traffic calming measures or a crossing point on Station Road which I have raised again with the council this week.

Six fields off Whittington Road, between New Whittington and Barrow Hill, have been identified as a potential site for housing development.

placeholder image — Six fields off Whittington Road, between New Whittington and Barrow Hill, have been identified as a potential site for housing development.

“It was interesting to hear people are not objecting to new houses being built per se, but the lack of support infrastructure, services, and amentities that too many developments are built without. If these were factored into the development, you would have a new development enhancing and strengthening the existing community leading to better integration and fostering a much tighter community spirit for all.”

Land and property regeneration company Harworth Group has still not responded to the Derbyshire Times’ question about whether a planning application for the site would be submitted to the borough council this month.

The potential scheme emerged in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening request opinion to the borough council’s planning authority in May this year. In June the council ruled that the proposal did not constitute EIA development and therefore an Environmental Statement was not required.