Residents' fears over housing development near Staveley

Chesterfield Borough Council approved an application for the Avant Homes (England) Ltd development on land at Cranleigh Road, Woodthorpe, during a meeting last week.

Planning documents state one resident told the council during the public consultation phase: "Local schools are already oversubscribed so where are the children going to go?

"GP surgeries and local dentists are already struggling to cope with patient demand.

"There are no amenities in Woodthorpe in terms of shops and no youth recreational facilities - so there will be youngsters hanging around the streets and safety will be an issue."

Another resident said: "The local highway network is already at capacity and cannot cope with any increase."

And another resident said: "Plot 55 is proposed at the bottom of my garden and its windows are faced in line with my sitting room windows.

"The arrangement will be intrusive to both properties and will cast significant shade over my house and garden."

However, a council planning officer said in their report: "The proposals are considered to be appropriately designed having regard to the character of the surrounding area and would not have an unacceptable detrimental impact on the amenities of neighbouring residents or highway safety."