Eastwood: Gas fears fuel fiery planning appeal debate

A campaign group opposing the plans fear the land could release toxicity from the landfill site into the air

A planning appeal meeting heard there was "genuine fear" over homes being built next to a landfill.

A scheme for 240 new properties off Braemar Avenue, in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, was unanimously refused in December 2022.

Applicant Gleeson Homes has appealed the decision, and was told by the leader of Broxtowe Borough Council the tip was a "real terrifying spectre".

But the developer said experts had found gas levels to be "insignificant".

The original plans attracted fierce opposition from nearby residents

The site is in the proximity of Matkin's Tip, a former landfill site which closed in 1985.

The original proposals were backed by council planners but rejected by councillors after more than 1,000 objections were received, many concerned with methane being released from the site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

An appeal is being held by the Planning Inspectorate at the council.

Milan Radulovic, leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, told the hearing: "Nobody knows the full extent of the tip site.

"I have a genuine fear about what was put into that tip. If this goes ahead it is likely to uncover all the fears we had.

"We're expressing our concern that this tip is a real terrifying spectre which lies in our background.

"We are totally concerned about what will be concerned if this goes ahead."

Mitigation measures

At the hearing, the council argued the land posed "a risk to human health and safety" and there was "insufficient evidence that the mitigation measures are sufficient".

Darren Henry, MP for Broxtowe, also said he opposed the plans, saying any risk to the public was "unacceptable".

Gleeson said the homes would not actually be built on top of the former tip site, but the residents argue the gases could migrate if the land is disturbed.

As part of the plans, the developer also said it would fit a "gas resistant membrane" and floor ventilation to all homes to mitigate any gas which could emanate from the former landfill site.

'Vague' claims

Paul Eastwood, from Hydrock, a firm which has undertaken investigations into the land, said: "There are concentrations of gases in the ground still, but not volumes.

"It will continue to degrade but it has gone way past its peak production for gases. 

"My view is the levels are insignificant from the point of view of the development of the site."

Richard Sagar, solicitor representing Gleeson Homes, requested for the council to pay its costs in full for what it said was "unreasonable behaviour" in rejecting the original planning application.

"It remains the case that there is no evidence, none at all, other than the vague assertion of a level of risk that nobody can pin down," he said.

A decision on the appeal will now be published by the Planning Inspectorate in the coming weeks.