Parking and flooding concerns over housing scheme
A DERBYSHIRE pub which has been left empty for years could be demolished to make way for dozens of homes.
The Black Horse Inn, in Lower Somercotes, Alfreton, was last in use eight years ago and has since fallen into a state of disrepair.
Now developer Hodgkinson Builders wants to remove the building and construct 34 homes on the land behind it. These would be a mixture of affordable housing and shared ownership in the form of two and three-bedroom homes.
However, there have been objections from some residents, who have raised concerns about a lack of infrastructure in the surrounding area to cope with the new homes.
A previous planning application for the site was withdrawn in 2019 before it was voted on by Amber Valley Borough Council’s planning committee. In a design and access Statement prepared by Urban Plus Ltd, on behalf of the developer, it states the plans would benefit the local area.
The development would comprise 19 two-bedroom houses and 15 threebedroom houses, with access to the site being provided by a new road near to the junction of Cinder Road and the B600 Lower Somercotes.
There would be 59 parking spaces, with most properties having two spots for residents, although a small number of two-bedroom houses would have one space.
It said: “The overall vision for the site is to provide a distinctive and high quality but affordable development which enhances the existing urban character of Somercotes and which positively upgrades the site from its current waste land use increasing the amenity value of the existing surrounding residential area.”
However, some residents have objected to the plans, citing concerns about potential parking problems.
In a letter of objection to the council, one person wrote: “By erecting more housing at Lower Somercotes, parking is becoming unbearable.
“There is an established dentist surgery on the junction of Lower Somercotes and Cinder Road with parking already congested.
“If this planning application goes ahead there will be more traffic movements at this junction with vehicles joining the main road from this direction, their views severely restricted due to parked vehicles.”
Another resident said they were worried about the potential for flooding, despite the land falling in a flood Zone 1 area, meaning it’s at low risk.
One person wrote: “Flooding of the field to the south and west of the development occurs every year.”
Another person commented: “When it rains it’s like a waterfall coming off the Black Horse field, and when you start digging you will hit the underground springs. Why do you think Springfield Crescent is so called?”
The full application can be viewed on the Amber Valley Borough Council planning portal under the reference AVA/2021/0140.