Worries over ‘most house-building’ villagers have seen
VILLAGERS are worried their community will not be able to cope with the largest housebuilding project it has seen in decades.
Eighty-five homes are being built off Church Street, Cropwell Bishop, and residents now questioning the impact of the plans.
The first few residents have already moved into the homes, between a sewage plant and Cropwell Bishop School.
A new access point to the school and a new roundabout in Church Street are part of the plans.
Jeremy,
52, and Eleanor Weinberg,
44, who objected to the building of the houses next door to their home in Church Street, said they still had concerns despite the development turning out better than expected.
Computer developer Mr Weinberg said: “It is quite a lot for a small village and we were dead against it. We appreciate the need for houses, of course, but we didn’t really want the houses there. And we wish there wasn’t a new roundabout outside our house – what village has a roundabout? We used to look out on to open fields. Having said all that, the general layout is quite nice – it has kept it fairly open.”
Mrs Weinberg, who works as an orthotist, said: “It feels quite closed in. We have a few worries about being able to get off our drive as well when everyone has moved in. “And the school here is already full. We used to have kids come here from Saxondale and Cropwell Butler but they will get pushed out. The houses don’t just impact here.” Jimmy Mularkey, 87, who has lived in Cropwell Bishop for 40 years, said: “It is a good thing, really, I suppose. But when we moved here 40 years ago it was a nice little village and now houses are going up. It must be the most houses that have been built since I’ve lived here. Eighty-odd is a lot in a small place. They’re building all over but, so far, there hasn’t been that many put here. “There would definitely be more traffic. The school is not getting any bigger, either, and there are not many shops – it used to just be farmer’s field.”
The 10-acre site was released from the green belt in 2020 in a deal worth more than £5 million. The site, now owned by Bloor Homes, was previously included in Rushcliffe Borough Council’s local development plan.
Resident David Hall, 35, said: “I was born and bred here and houses do now come up a lot around here.
“Everyone wants to live in a little village, don’t they? Houses get snapped up right away. The only concern would be over facilities but it is a tidy place for a new house. It is the most house-building I have seen. Shops and the doctor’s is only small – plus the Co-op gets busy as it is.”
A spokesperson for Bloor Homes said: “The character of the scheme has evolved directly from an assessment of the site and its context. This has considered the existing settlement character, including building arrangements, materials and detailing and boundary treatments. The scheme looks to reinforce that character and sense of local vernacular by using local character features and differing materials on visually prominent plots.”
When we moved here 40 years ago it was a nice little village and now houses are going up Eighty-odd is a lot in a small place. Jimmy Mularkey