Derby City Council planning officials have recommended approval of plans to build up to 350 homes on protected green wedge land in Littleover, despite significant local opposition.
The proposed development would be built to the east of Moorway Lane on the Littleover and Sunnyhill green wedge — a planning designation intended to protect open areas between settlements. The application is due to be decided at a council meeting on Thursday.
Local Opposition
The plans have generated substantial objection. A total of 220 residents have submitted objection letters, while campaign group Greener Littleover launched a petition that has been signed by 3,390 people.
Concerns raised include the impact on nearby Millennium Wood and the loss of green wedge land. Derbyshire county councillor Martyn Ford, whose ward borders the site, has opposed the application, stating it would "add to the chaos" of Derby's road network — particularly in light of a separate council-backed plan for 2,500 homes on the outskirts of Mickleover.
Derby MPs Catherine Atkinson and Baggy Shanker have not opposed the plans but submitted a letter raising resident concerns about traffic, public transport, active travel, the green wedge, flooding, and capacity in public services.
Highways and Housing Concerns
Highways officials have noted the significant impact the development would have on nearby roads. They have said work to improve the Moorway Lane-Bleagraves Lane junction as part of the scheme should be "essential". However, applicant Ainscough Strategic Land has requested permission to build homes before junction improvements are completed.
Planning officials acknowledged the council's housing shortage as a key factor in their recommendation. Derby currently has a 2.7-year housing land supply — below the five-year target — which limits the council's ability to refuse new housing sites.
A planning report stated that a "viable" green wedge would still be retained and that the "adverse effects" of the development "do not substantially outweigh the benefits of the scheme, which are very significant in the context of the council's housing land supply and affordable housing needs".
