Developers appeal against refusal of green belt plans
THEY SAY SCHEME WILL ‘SERVE THE GREATER GOOD’ BY BRINGING NEW JOBS
DEVELOPERS are to appeal against rejected plans for a huge business park extension in the Derbyshire green belt.
This week, Amber Valley borough councillors rejected plans to extend Denby Hall Business Park with 60,000 square metres of floor space, creating nearly 680 new jobs and safeguarding 100 more.
Councillors and residents said safeguarding jobs and boosting the local economy did not justify construction on protected green belt land, formerly a colliery.
This was against the recommendations of council officers.
Now the firms behind the plans, led by Garner Holdings, are putting together their appeal against the refusal, calling the decision “wrong” which causes a “delay (to) muchneeded development that will serve the greater good”.
Defending a planning appeal could cost the council thousands of pounds. This could increase much further if government planning inspectors mandate that the council pay the developer’s appeal costs.
Jonathan Jenkin, agent for the applicants, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We were disappointed by the decision the planning board made to refuse planning permission.
“We put forward a very good case that had the support of planning officers.
“Developing in the green belt is not taken lightly. We were able to show that there are very special circumstances that outweigh the harm to the green belt.
“There are no reasonable alternative sites and this was confirmed by the council’s own independent report.
“The minimum amount of green
How the Derby Telegraph reported the news this week that Amber Valley Borough Council had turned down the scheme to extend Denby Hall Business Park belt land would be used; the project would create and protect 780 jobs and it would create a world leading indigenous and green manufacturing facility.
“The proposed production cycle re-uses aluminium and upvc from old windows and doors.
“It is a world leader in re-cycling and it is a world leader in the design and production of windows, doors and other fittings.
“The site is very sustainable for manufacturing; it is on a major public transport route, and it is close to large urban areas, allowing workers to access the site by bus, by foot and by bike, as well as by car.
“There are no highway objections to the development of this site and we were able to show that the loss of biodiversity could be avoided and that a biodiversity gain can be achieved.
“We showed how the new buildings can be integrated into the landscape and the impact on neighbours would be minimised.
“We also proposed an improvement to the A610/Steam Mill Lane junction that would be funded through this proposal.
“Whilst we are disappointed by the decision, we are not giving up.
“As soon as the council has issued the decision notice we will appeal against the decision to the secretary of state.
“With the officers recommendation for approval we believe that we have good grounds for the appeal and that the council’s decision was wrong.
“We hope that the appeal will be allowed, but it is unfortunate that the council’s stance will delay muchneeded development that will serve the greater good.”
The expansion would have included a new 32,021 square metre production facility for Garner Aluminium Extrusions Limited, a 20,009 square metre warehouse for HL Plastics Limited and a 7,293 square metre production facility for LB Plastics Limited. Council planning officers said the creation of jobs and the economic benefit to the borough met the “very special circumstances” required to build on green belt land. Cllr Ben Bellamy, deputy leader of the authority, had said: “I don’t believe the very special circumstances exist here.
“The applicants are taking the easiest, most economically beneficial and convenient choice for themselves.
“This authority is pro-business and we recognise the contribution the businesses have made to the borough. But we must not sacrifice the green belt.”
We were able to show that there are very special circumstances that outweigh the harm to the green belt. Jonathan Jenkin