New junction will ‘make road safer’
AN “accident blackspot” in South Derbyshire that has seen drivers careering into people’s gardens is to be made safer.
It comes as South Derbyshire District councillors gave final approval to plans to build 68 homes off Park Road in Swadlincote.
As part of the scheme, from Cameron Homes, a new roundabout junction is being built, which will also provide access to the development.
Councillor Kevin Richards, leader of the council, said: “The island is a great thing for stopping accidents. It was an accident blackspot and you had cars ending up in people’s gardens due to the camber in the road.”
The scheme forms part of the overall development of the former Cadley Hill Colliery site, which in itself is the lynchpin of the town’s redevelopment with hundreds of homes, golf course and a country park.
The Cameron Homes scheme, given outline approval in 2019, will include just two homes which are classed as affordable housing – a pair of two-bed bungalows.
Of the remaining 66 homes, four will be two-bed bungalows, two will be twobedroom houses, 30 three-bedroom houses and 30 four-bed houses. Chris Timothy, a managing director at CT Planning, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said that a “ball risk assessment” could be submitted, if required, to factor in the chance of balls from the adjacent golf course hitting people’s homes or injuring residents.
The island is a great thing for stopping accidents. You had cars ending up in people’s gardens.
Kevin Richards
A council planning officer said this would not be required due to the orientation of the golf course, with there being an “adequate” buffer between the fairway and the houses. He also said that hedges on Woodview Road, to the north of the site, would be retained, with residents having been concerned that they may be removed and cause a significant impact on wildlife. Council officers wrote: “It is considered that the proposed development would create satisfactory living environments for the future occupiers of the proposed dwellings and provides an appropriate balance between the amenity of future occupiers and the delivery of the number of dwellings approved at outline stage, and design matters. Overall, notwithstanding the comments received, in design terms and in terms of residential amenity, the proposed development is considered to be acceptable.”
The development will include a children’s play area close to Woodview Road.
The Cadley Hill site will be home to around 600 houses once construction has been completed, with the lion’s share being built closer to the town off William Nadin Way through Avant Homes.