Parish council opposed to plans for homes and industrial estate on A5
Another plan for industrial estate and homes in Burbage
A PLANNED estate of 140 homes and an industrial park in Burbage would cause ‘unacceptable’ traffic pressure, councillors have warned.
Burbage Parish Council unanimously objected to a proposal to develop a site between the A5 and the Sketchley Grange Hotel, extending the Sketchley business park and creating a range of mostly two-storey houses.
It said the scheme would cause too much extra traffic on the A5 and that the project would ruin the beauty of the surrounding countryside.
The development was discussed at a recent planning committee meeting and four written representations were received by the authority opposing it, including one from councillor Mike Hall.
The council said in its minutes for the meeting: “The development would be outside the parish development boundary and would have an adverse urbanising effect on the landscape, resulting in harm to the intrinsic character and beauty of the surrounding countryside.
“The housing development is on land that has historical connections with ridge and furrow agriculture and the warehousing development is contrary to the protected green wedge, both of which are identified in the emerging Burbage Neighbourhood Plan.
“The increased traffic movements associated with the proposed development will have an unacceptable adverse impact on the amenities of the occupiers of dwellings in Sketchley Lane.”
It also said that Sketchley Lane is already under stress from high traffic levels.
The housing complex would be accessed from a new junction off Sketchley Lane while the commercial project would be accessed via Watling Drive, which is a short drive from the A5.
Affordable housing would make up 20 per cent of the homes, with 32 per cent to be medium and larger family units, 64 per cent to be smaller and medium sized units, and 4 per cent to be multi-person housing and flats.
The council took issue with the scale and height of the proposed warehousing and said that it would be out of keeping with the area and would spoil the views of the countryside and neighbouring properties.
The business properties are designed to be of a scale so they could be used by a wide spectrum of companies.
A design statement filed by Barwood Development Securities said they would “provide maximum flexibility for changes of use and adaptability for new owners”.
Further objections from the council included: “The warehousing development would place an inappropriate additional load on the A5 prior to any upgrade which is planned, elevating the current congestion experienced on this section of the road.
“There are additional concerns regarding the lack of open space provision, the noise and light pollution associated with 24-hour operation of warehousing, potential flooding issues on part of the site and potential adverse impact on utilities serving existing residential developments.”