A campaign group has been set up to fight plans to build up to 150 homes on the edge of Winshill, which residents claim will threaten the area with floods and bring traffic congestion.
Winshill Unite Against Further Development on Green Fields wants to hire a planning consultant to fight an application to develop 28 acres of agricultural land off Sales Lane and Hawfield Lane, Bretby, which also borders Winshill.
The application has led to criticism from locals who also claim it will put extra pressure on doctors and schools and lead to a loss of wildlife. They also have concerns about the scale of the development.
As a result of concerns the applicant Summix (Burton) Developments has scaled down its proposal from 250 homes to 150. The outline application is to be decided by South Derbyshire District Council by October.
Following the public consultation, the developers decided to reduce the number of planned homes, which includes bungalows, as well as incorporating a series of linked sustainable drainage structures. There would also be a new junction realignment to access the new development off Sales Lane.
However, while some Burton Mail readers claim roads will not be able to cope with the increase in traffic and that already empty homes should be reused, others have said there is a massive housing crisis.
Nolan Salmon posted on the Burton Mail’s Facebook page: "A few points – 1) we have a massive housing crisis in the UK and new homes have to be found. 2) As I look out of my upstairs window I can see these houses already being built. 3) It's a bit cheeky South Derbyshire approving these as to all intents and purposes it isn't Newton Solney (despite the big advert on the access road) it's in Winshill. 4) We need a new consensus on housing as every new development gets opposed yet we have a million people homeless and young families paying extortionate rent and unable to buy. Personally and for good reasons I do not object to these houses but I'd like to see a better way of doing things."
Lindsay Burton said: "We are fighting against this. We DO NOT want these houses to be built. It is not sustainable land, not in keeping with the area."
Stacey Seagrave said: "How about stop building houses and sort the real issues out? We're going to be living in concrete jungle."
Georgina Rowlands raised concerns about the roads, saying: "Do you realise how many thousands of houses are being built in this area which includes Burton, Lichfield, Fradley and Alrewas (on flood plains) and Tamworth. It is never-ending and are our roads ready for all this extra traffic? No."
However, the application also brought praise from one reader, with Jason Potts saying: "It looks like they could have decent-sized gardens and parking on the property."
