Decision on retirement homes for landfill site deferred

The authority’s planning committee was due to make a decision on the proposals for the Seisdon landfill site at its meeting this month , which was held via video conference due to the current social distancing measures in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

More than 40 objections to the plans were submitted to the council by residents.

Dan Hadley said: “To the best of my knowledge this landfill site was previously identified as being turned into a nature reserve or similar.

“There appears to be no thought to existing infrastructure available to support this development. Seisdon and the surrounding areas are a limited and small village with one retirement property already in place at Trysull.

"The construction of another retirement facility will not relieve a current strain or problem on the local area as this problem does not exist.”

Phil Cumisky said: “I strongly object to any large scale development in Seisdon as they are simply out of character for a protected conservation (area).

"There are no services, no safe footpaths or any other amenities nearby and any resident would be forced to use vehicles to use any doctor, amenity space or the small local shop.

“The roads nearby are already dangerously overused and local stables users risk their lives with current local traffic levels.

“Please don’t put money before the views of current residents. There is no demand by locals for this facility and we don’t want any more development of this conservation area.”

Statement

But a planning statement submitted as part of the application said half the Ebstree Road site would be used for housing and the remaining area would form part of the restoration of the land, with 50 per cent of the space for woodland, leisure and nature conservation.

It added: “The proposed development would result in the partial redevelopment of previously developed land. The proposed development would not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing development.

“Overall the proposal provides for a sustainable form of development meeting the strong need for new housing in the district. It is clear that the proposed benefits associated with the development – including cessation and restoration of the landfill site – set out clearly outweigh any harm that would result from the proposal.”

The application, put forward by Seisdon UK Ltd, had been recommended for refusal by planning officers before the meeting because it was considered inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

Up to 30 per cent of the properties proposed could be affordable housing, a report to the planning committee said.

But it added: “It is not considered that these amount the very special circumstances needed to clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.

“The site is disassociated from the existing village of Seisdon which has not been identified for housing growth, as it has limited facilities.The proposal provides dwellings for the over 55s only, is gated and does not provide a range of homes for the local community.”

The committee heard during its meeting that a further submission had been put forward by the applicant’s agent. Members agreed to defer making a decision on the application so that further information could be considered.