Massive home development set to get green light

A 621 home development in Nuneaton has taken a step toward being given the green light.

The proposals for the huge new estate off Golf Drive are being recommended for approval.

Taylor Wimpey submitted a hybrid planning application for full planning application for 621 no. homes, vehicular access from Golf Drive and Wentworth Drive, pedestrian and cycle access from Juliet Close, landscaping, openspace and drainage.

There is also an outline planning application, including access from internal site roads, for a site of 0.8 hectares comprising a community hall and a health centre.

The plans are set to be discussed by members of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, April 20.

It is being recommended they are given the green light.

This is despite there being 48 objections to the current plan, as well as previous objections to the land forming part of the council’s controversial Borough Plan, which outlines where future development can be built across the two towns.

The land in question is known as Policy HSG9 in the Borough Plan and the report says the Taylor Wimpey application meets the requirements of HSG9.

“It is considered that the requirements of Policy HSG9 can be accommodated on the site, “the report reads.

“It is considered that the principle of developing this site for a mix of residential, community use, GP surgery and open space has been established through the allocation of the site in the Borough Plan and the relevant policies within it.”

The report also states Warwickshire County Council’s Highways has no objections to the development but have requested where the spine road for the development is to connect to the existing public highways of Golf Drive and

Wentworth Drive, details of the changes to the existing junction and turning head need to be submitted for agreement.

A central spine road is proposed which runs from east to west and connects to the accesses at Golf Drive and Wentworth Drive and is served by footpaths.

Highways has also requested a condition for design details to be submitted for the layout of the junction of Golfdrive/shakespeare Avenue to re-prioritise the primary route, extension of a sharedfootway/cycleway provision to the eastern boundary of Golf Drive to enable cyclists to safely re-join the public highway Golf Drive, provision and connection of the shared cyclepath/footway between the proposed development and Juliet Close.

And provision of a proposed shared footway/ cycleway together with the closure of the existing turning head and intersection of the existing residential driveways with the realigned highway of Wentworth Drive.

The report concludes: “Furthermore, there are no material considerations or adverse impacts which indicate that the application should be refused.

“It is therefore considered the proposed development would achieve sustainable development which should consequently be approved subject to conditions.”

In November 2019 the developer revealed its masterplan and held a drop-in session in the area so that residents could have their say.

This is the second time the national developer has created a plan for the area.

The first, prepared in 2017, contained three vehicle access points and the proposed location of the local centre was behind Shakespeare Drive.

But these have since been changed, to include two vehicle access points.

The plans were officially submitted to the Town Hall in April last year and now they are finally due to be debated.

Planning members will meet during a virtual meeting, which is set to start at 5pm and will be livestreamed on the council’s channel on Youtube.