Rejected homes plans for Bramcote Ridge appealed

AN appeal has been lodged against a decision to reject plans for an ambitious development.

The proposal in 2019 sought to transform an 11-acre area of land known as Bramcote Ridge and donate seven acres back to public use.

As well as 11 homes, Bramcote Unity Park aimed to bring together three protected sites - the Alexandria Plantation, Sandy Lane Nature Reserve and the Deddington Plantation – to create a single 39-acre area of parkland.

But following the planning application process both Nottingham City Council and Broxtowe Borough Council came to the unanimous decision on refusing the plan at a meeting in July last year.

It was agreed “the positives do not outweigh the negatives” with the plans and overall there would be too much ecological impact to the area.

Now, more than six months later, the organisation behind the proposal has appealed the decision. Bramcote Unity Park Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is appealing to the Secretary of State and a letter has been published online by Broxtowe Borough Council.

The appeal will now go to an inquiry and the site will be visited by an inspector.

The letter states: “An appeal has been made to the Secretary of State in respect of the above site after refusal of the proposal by the council for the following reason/s: The proposed housing development, by virtue of the built development and the loss of habitats, would result in an unacceptable harm to the Green Infrastructure Asset and would result in a netloss to biodiversity.

“No benefits which clearly outweigh this harm have been demonstrated.”

It adds: “The appeal is to be decided on the basis of an inquiry and a site visit by an Inspector.

“Any comments already made about application 19/00465/FUL (unless expressly confidential) will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate and copied to the appellant.”

Additional comments on the application must be made by March 22.