Noise fears scupper plans for more than 200 homes
PLANS to build more than 200 homes in open countryside have been refused because of noise issues.
Planning officers at South Derbyshire District Council decided to refuse proposals which could have seen up to 224 homes sited adjacent to Cadley Hill Industrial Estate in Swadlincote.
St Modwen Developments Ltd applied to the council for outline permission for the residential development on land off Swadlincote Lane, behind homes which are already victims of mining subsidence.
However, a decision notice by planning officers said: “The proposal for residential development adjacent to an established industrial estate would be unacceptable due to the high potential for noise complaints and thus significantly reducing the quality of life of future residents.”
St Modwen said its development would have offered ‘high quality and sustainable new housing in Swadlincote’.
The applicant also said the site had been included and assessed within the council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment and was considered to be suitable.
A public consultation had already brought up the issue of noise, with a buffer zone and an acoustic barrier mooted to reduce the noise impact from the industrial development.
However, planning officers said: “The proposed development could significantly change the noise characteristics of the area, and industrial noises would cause disturbance to the new noise-sensitive neighbouring land use, thus impeding expansion and viability of existing businesses.”
Officers also added that the allocated site was considered in the South Derbyshire Employment Land Review, which concluded that it was of ‘good’ quality for such development.
The site was subsequently assessed in the Derby Housing Market Area Employment Land Review, which identifies a shortage of employment land in South Derbyshire.
Officers said: “Loss of the site to residential development would add to this shortfall in employment land which is required to meet sustainability objectives.”
