Decision imminent on 763-home plan set to create new Nottinghamshire village

A new primary school, playing pitches, allotments, and a community hub are also planned

A decision will soon be made on whether more than 750 new homes can be built to form a "new village" in Nottinghamshire. The long-planned construction of hundreds of homes on farmland at Top Wighay, off the A611 near Linby and Hucknall, could go ahead if Gedling Borough Council's planning committee approves plans on Thursday, September 26.

Housebuilder Vistry Group submitted detailed plans that outlined the layout, scale, landscaping and appearance of the project in December. These proposals, which include 763 new homes, a school and local centre, as well as public open space, will be voted on by councillors next week. Planning officers for Gedling Borough Council have advised committee members to grant planning permission for the development, despite objections from nearby Linby Parish Council and other groups.

In a report, published ahead of committee members voting, a planning officer said: "The development would result in a scheme that would respect the character of the existing area and have an appropriate density of development. The design of the dwellings is acceptable with a mixture of materials and scale of properties, with public open space overlooked and residential amenity respected."

Linby Parish Council objected to the plans for the site, slamming them as "piecemeal" and "poorly designed", as well as raising concerns over whether there would be adequate infrastructure and jobs for new residents. Active Travel England criticised the design of the development's streets and Sport England objected to the lack of changing rooms at the planned sport pitches.

If approved the new-builds would be constructed in four stages by three Vistry Group housebuilders, while the new school would be delivered by Nottinghamshire County Council using funds from the housebuilder's infrastructure contribution. Linden Homes would be able to build 288 properties off the road that runs past Nottinghamshire County Council new office on the site.

The next phase, constructed by Bovis Homes, would contain the entrance landscaping, local wildlife site and 158 homes. The final two phases would include Countryside Partnerships' 317 properties and the new primary school, playing pitches, allotments, and a community hub.

Former landowner Nottinghamshire County Council, which applied for the earlier outline plan and is building its new £18m office on site, officially signed over the land to developer Vistry in September 2023. The council had owned the land since the 1950s, but said its sale and development would give a £870 million boost to the local economy over 10 years.