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Hundreds of homes have been approved to join a ‘new community’ in Nottinghamshire. Up to 400 houses can now be built on land opposite Abbott Road, Mansfield, after the Mansfield Borough Council planning committee gave its approval on March 13.

While phase one of the housing development is underway with 202 properties nearly complete, plans recently considered by councilors will increase the number of homes in the remaining phases by 170.

At the meeting, Michael Hepburn of planning consultant Lichfields, acting on behalf of applicant Commercial Estates Projects Limited & Hallam Land Management, said: “Our planning team has worked with (Mansfield District Council) officials to ensure we have reached to the same better scheme at Penniment Farm, contributing significantly to sustainable growth at Mansfield.

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“The proposed development will build on the existing housing and infrastructure already delivered at Penniment Farm to date, and continue to create a new community.” He application originally withdrew from a July 5, 2021 meeting at the request of the applicant, as they wanted to assess the feasibility of the project.

Council discussions began with the applicant over feasibility issues affecting development of the site in the summer of 2022, with the applicant explaining that phase one was affected by more than £7.5m in “abnormal costs” during the construction. An independent review then found that the scheme could remain financially viable while turning over six per cent of its new homes as affordable housing and paying contributions of £2,581,188.

The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board said a health infrastructure would need to be developed to accommodate the increase in population. The authority said primary care practices were “currently reviewing their options to accommodate the increased number of patients”, which was predicted to be around 1,000 in a planning document.

The respondent said it was “likely” that these plans include reconfiguring or expanding existing facilities or contributing to new construction. The planning obligations outlined that a contribution of £180,625 would be allocated to healthcare in the area.

Nottinghamshire County Council said it would not need a secondary education contribution for this application, as pupil increases were accounted for in a previous application. But as for primary education, the Provincial Council will receive a contribution of 1,588,188 pounds sterling.

Developers will also have to contribute £539,000 to improve public transport in Nottinghamshire County Council. A further £65,800 will have to be paid to County Council to fund improvements to the bus stops.

In a report to the planning committee, which recommended that approval be granted, a Mansfield Borough Council planning officer said: “The site has previously received general planning permission for a development of residential and employment uses and the initial residential phase is now nearing completion.

“While there are no objections to this request in principle, the requirement to increase the number of homes across the site by a further 170 homes raised concerns for the Highway Authority in terms of capacity and safety.

“The Highway Authority has carefully considered the ability to service increased housing while maintaining sufficient roadway capacity for employment land and, with the established conditions, informational and mitigations established, no longer has objections to the plan and to the preservation of the ability to develop the land of employment”. Members of the planning committee voted unanimously in favor of the scheme.

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