PLEASE SIGN PETITION & ATTEND PUBLIC INQUIRY 8th OCTOBER

Call to Action

We, the undersigned, urge Inspector W Cooper BA (Hons) MA CMLI to uphold Amber Valley Borough Council's rejection of the planning application for 185 houses behind St Martin's Church, Alfreton, to protect our community's heritage and ecologically sensitive areas.

What’s happening?

This petition aims to support Amber Valley Borough Council (AVBC) at a public inquiry in which Cheshire’s Gladman Developments appeal AVBC’s rejection of their planning application for 185 houses on greenfield space, which will significantly affect historically and ecologically important sites. We believe that AVBC made the right decision to reject this urban encroachment, and they did so on five grounds of refusal: visual impact & landscape, heritage, ecology, highway safety, and trees; but now their decision stands to be overturned.

What’s affected?

The sites that stand to be affected are 13th century Grade II* Listed Building St Martin's Church, Grade II Listed Building Alfreton Hall, historic Alfreton Park, historic Pond Wood, as well as TPO (Tree Preservation Order) protected trees, and Public Rights of Way Footpaths 18 and 19. The proposed site is represented by the red boundary:

 

 

This whole area has been cherished for generations as an intrinsically valuable, tranquil and sacred place, offering wide and far-reaching views towards Ambergate, Crich, Wessington, Higham, and Pleasley, to name a few. Situated on Alfreton’s doorstep, many describe this place as a doorway into the countryside, affording residents and visitors alike the chance to ramble freely from the town into a place like no other.

In only a brief wander, one can witness buzzards, sparrowhawks, kestrels, robins, wrens, tits, kingfishers, and so much more. On a lucky evening, one can even sight the murmuration of starlings. The diversity of fauna and flora is clear to see, and protected species of trees and amphibians reside in this area.

What about the need for housing?

AVBC has stated that it has a housing land supply of 8.54 years for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028. Therefore, it is unnecessary at this time to encroach into the countryside to provide housing, and to do so would be contrary to the strategy laid out in AVBC’s emerging Local Plan.

What can we do?

We are urging as many people as possible to sign the petition and attend the public inquiry to support AVBC. The public inquiry will be held from 10am on 8th-11th October at The Post Mill Centre (Market Street, South Normanton, Derbyshire, DE55 2EJ), and online from 15th-18th October. Please email planningappeals@ambervalley.gov.uk to attend the days online.

What else?

All documents are available at: Appeal Documents

• Click the link to see AVBC's report that details the five grounds of refusal, titled: 'Statement of Case - Land off Chesterfield Road...'

Planning Application Reference: AVA/2023/0764

Appeal ID: 206

Appeal Reference: APP/M1005/W/24/3343782

The appeal decision will be published online in due time after the inquiry closes at: Planning Inspectorate Appeal Decisions

Privacy Statement

Personal information will not be shared publicly and is gathered solely for presentation to Inspector W Cooper BA (Hons) MA CMLI at the public inquiry to demonstrate community support for AVBC's rejection of Gladman Developments' stated planning application.

(Photo credit: The Roaming Picture Taker)