Step forward for 1,800-home garden village plans

A major development near Clowne has taken a step forward

A garden village of up to 1,800 new homes near a town in Derbyshire has taken a step forward after a legal agreement was completed.

Bolsover District Council said on Wednesday outline permission had been granted to develop the site, which sits to the north of Hickinwood Lane, in Clowne.

This was after a Section 106 legal agreement - which sets the level of financial contributions the developer should make - was completed.

The development will also include a retirement village, neighbourhood centre, hotel, and land will be set aside for leisure, health and educational uses, the council added.

More than 6,000 people previously raised objections to the scheme, arguing it would lead to overcrowding, place a strain on highways, health services and education, create drainage and flooding problems and affect the countryside and wildlife.

Developers Waystone must now fulfil a number of planning conditions and legal obligations before and during development, and submit more detailed applications for each phase.

Council leader Jane Yates said: "This development will be a huge change for Clowne and the surrounding areas and we appreciate a lot of people have concerns.

"We have done everything we can to ensure that concerns raised have been addressed through the planning process.

"We will continue to communicate and consult with the public throughout the development to ensure local people are kept informed.

"The impact this development will have on the district will be a hugely positive one with more resources and better choice of housing for residents."

Work will not start on the project until detailed planning permission has been granted for each development phase, the council said.