Campaigners oppose 1,000-home plan for Bingham

Campaigners say the houses will ruin the character of the town

Campaigners in a Nottinghamshire town say plans to build 1,000 new homes could ruin the character of the town.

The proposals for north Bingham would create traffic problems and use valuable agricultural land, campaign group Bingham Community Concern said.

Developers Crown Estate said the plans would help "long-term housing supply and employment" in the town.

The final decision on the plans will be made by Rushcliffe Borough Council in about two months.

Open space

"This land is the best land in the parish … and has been used in continuous agricultural production ever since Roman times - this is almost sacred land," campaigner Patrick Hamner said.

The opponents say the development would also hurt the heritage and landscape of the 700-year-old market town.

Crown Estate said the plans include a new school, health centre and new recreational and retail facilities which would create about 1,400 jobs in the next 10 years.

The plans include a country park and lake with more than 30% of the 91-hectare (225-acre) site dedicated to public open space.

Crown Estate spokesman Nick Harper said the firm had "continuing and extensive engagement" with local people about the project.

Bingham Town Council has voted to support the plans, saying the firm has proposed good facilities for the area. The land is not protected by green belt status.

"With a scale of 1,000 homes we can realistically plan for the future - for proper infrastructure and proper community facilities like schools," town councillor Francis Purdue-Horan said.