Industrial units and jobs set for fire-hit Derbyshire anti-social behaviour hotspot

The site was hit by a significant fire last month and plans for the plot are now due for approval

Industrial units are set to be built on a long-derelict Derbyshire anti-social behaviour hotspot which was set on fire last month. The proposed site in Park Road, between Stanton and Newhall, has been derelict for years since its historic use as part of the wider Bretby Colliery, but could now become an industrial unit with space for four businesses.

South Derbyshire District Council officials have recommended that DLS Homes’ plans for the site are approved at a meeting on Tuesday, October 22, creating 12 jobs. The site is currently home to a crumbling red-brick former warehouse and a number of walls of previous buildings, all of which are now covered in graffiti.

This plot has become host to consistent anti-social behaviour, with residents regularly raising issues relating to the site, including at district council meetings attended by police. On September 19, the former warehouse was set on fire with flames seen for miles around.

The district council’s economic development team, responding to the application, wrote: “From an economic development perspective, we very much welcome the development. The development would see the construction of new commercial floorspace – construction of small units has been very limited in recent years, despite the levels of demand.

“Further, this is a longstanding vacant/derelict site that visually detracts from the local area, which has seen significant new residential and commercial investment in recent years. The site has attracted vandalism and anti-social behaviour over an extended period. The condition of the site means that there are dangers to trespassers on site.”

Eight members of the public have written to the council over the plans, raising issues over the entrance to the site being “extremely dangerous”, lighting worries and visibility fears, though support was raised over clearing up a derelict mining site.

Planning officials say the site is within the Burton-Swadlincote Green Belt, as of the 1980s, and has been abandoned since 2009, following decades of use in the mining industry. They say it is clearly previously developed land which would be suitable for redevelopment.

District council planning officers, recommending approval, wrote: “It is considered that the scale of the development proposed could be appropriately accommodated within the site without having a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area, openness of the Green Belt or amenity of the occupants of neighbouring properties.” The pavement past the site itself, not for the length of Park Road, would be widened to two metres, council officials say.

The district council officers continued: “The proposed development at land to the north of Park Road, Stanton is considered to be acceptable firstly in terms of the principle, as the proposal is on previously developed land within the Green Belt. The existing structure located centrally within the site is proposed to be demolished with the indicative plans showing the development of a low lying single storey structure adjacent the north-western boundary which is considered to have no greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt or the landscape character of the area.

“Whilst concerns regarding neighbour amenity and highway issues have been raised it is considered that the site could come forward in a manner such as to ensure that there is no significant detriment to neighbour amenity and the local highway network.” The applicants were told by district council leaders as far back as 2022 that the authority wanted to see the site developed and that this ought to be commercial space or leisure uses.

They were told by council officials that market housing, the preferred choice of the applicant, would not be acceptable, and so it is “not being pursued”. Affordable housing “remains an option” the applicants said, although further advice from the council detailed: “Affordable housing could not be supported in this location, but employment may be considered acceptable in principle given the previous land use.”

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