1 week Ago By [email protected] (Marta Tavares)
A planning application seeking permission in principle for up to four new homes has received objection. The application, which was presented to planning committee members at Newark Town Council, proposes the demolition of existing agricultural buildings — unused for over 30 years — to make way for between two and four residential properties. The site, on 55 Beacon Hill Road, Newark, would share an existing access point via a widened private driveway between no.
53 and no.55. The proposal was objected by the councillors due to over-intensification of development within a Conservation Area.
Lynn Roulstone said: “This reminds me of things with solar farms, we have got so many developments going on in Beacon Hill Road at the moment that I would rather we step back and had an overview of all these different possible developments and what would be acceptable and what wouldn’t be.” Under the permission in principle route, the application seeks to establish whether the site is suitable for housing before submitting more detailed proposals at a later stage through technical details consent. Barbara Corrigan said: “I read this application and I object.
“Even in the application they acknowledge that the area they are looking to develop is outside of the urban area boundary for Newark and they know they are pushing their mark anyway.” The wider landholding backs onto Beacon Hill Conservation Park — a site recognised by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust as a Local Nature Reserve and a Local Wildlife Site — valued for its diverse habitats and species including foxes, skylarks, wild clematis, and several notable moths. While the application acknowledges the proximity to this area of environmental interest, it states that the proposed dwellings would occupy only the space currently taken up by derelict agricultural buildings and the development “would not adversely impact the character of the area”.
Officers said the proposal represented sustainable development, with good access to local services, schools, and employment, and that a presumption in favour of such development should apply. Mathew Skinner said: “I am deeply concerned we are going to gain another one of these planning in principle applications. “It is my bugbear at the moment because in my perspective, my understanding is that you have an application and if you approve this, you’re pretty much carte blanche in approving it to be a full application.
“I have had a number of deeply concerned residents contact me about this particular application. “I really hope we cannot support this.” The plans were unanimously objected to by the planning committee.
The application will be considered by the Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee..
