'Build the infrastructure first' plea as thousands more Derbyshire homes planned

Mickleover and Chellaston could see thousands of new homes built under the proposals from South Derbyshire District Council, which will go out to public consultation later this year

Concerns have been raised about plans for thousands of new homes in two Derby suburbs could see a surge in new homes as the city strives to hit its house-building targets. Mickleover is set for a potential 2,500-home expansion, while Chellaston could welcome an additional 2,000 homes under the Infinity Garden Village plan.

The district council's forthcoming Local Plan aims to assist Derby City Council in addressing its unmet housing needs. This includes both Amber Valley Borough Council and South Derbyshire agreeing to accommodate an extra 9,022 homes, over and above their own requirements.

This means that more than a third of the total housing designated by South Derbyshire and Amber Valley would be constructed to fulfil Derby's unmet needs. Amber Valley is already at the submission stage of its own Local Plan, which features a possible 2,000-home extension to Mackworth.

A document from the district council indicates that Amber Valley would need to incorporate this scheme and find additional space for homes to aid Derby with its unmet need. South Derbyshire currently plans to meet this extra demand through two new housing sites on the outskirts of Mickleover and Chellaston.

The "Land South of Mickleover" project, poised to introduce 2,500 new homes nestled between the A38, off the Findern Interchange, and wrapping around the Pastures Golf Club up to the A516, isn't just about residential spaces. The ambitious scheme also promises 12 to 24 acres dedicated to employment, a possible retirement community, pitches for Gypsy and Travellers, a three-form entry primary school with a nursery, health facilities, a convenient local centre boasting shops and services, along with a fresh "country park" edging the former Pastures Hospital estate, complemented by new cycling and walking paths.

The council is committed to providing bus stops and routes connecting directly to Derby city centre from the development. They insist that all necessary infrastructure, such as schools, public transport, healthcare, and road improvements, will be firmly established ahead of home occupation.

Commenter Janem1 says: “Make sure they build the infrastructure before the houses.”

A Thoms agrees: “No roads, no doctors, no shops, no schools and still no affordable housing for the young as usual, all built around city roads and infrastructure incapable of coping with any extra houses, cars or population!”

Flagofengland asks: “Health care? Are they for real? Can't even get into current doctors so where are the health care professionals coming from? Did they mention any dentists?”

Derbyaud says: “You have got to be kidding me! As soon as I saw this I knew it would be something added onto Mickleover. We don't have the infrastructure here, the place is already bowed under the pressure of all the houses at Hackwood, Station Road, Mackworth county park etc. I don't for one minute believe all the promised things in the report. Where are they going to senior school? John Port is already bursting at the seams having added 500 extra places this year. Are you all mad on the council? Take a look at what you are doing to Derby!”

Singwhenyourwinning writes: “The County Councils have been building their allocation of new houses next to the Derby boundary for years. They then claim that they're only doing it for the benefit of the city of Derby. It's time to expand the Derby boundary again. This would allow Derby to build their housing allocation in a controlled manner that includes schools, doctors surgeries, local transport etc. Derby City could then claim the council tax for all new homes. This is currently gobbled up by the county councils.”

Emileeee says: “It will soon be like poor Hilton village, surrounded by vast swathes of new housing. The original village will be all but lost and like other surrounding villages, just becoming a suburb of Derby as green spaces separating them from the city are built over. It will all become joined up into one huge urban sprawl, completely losing their identities and exclusivity forever.”

Ventura points out: “You read about all the sewage being dumped into streams and rivers. Part of this is because they're building all these new houses and blocks of flats, but the water treatment works are not being up sized to cope with the extra effluent that is created by all these thousands of new homes. Part of the provision for new homes should also be to work in conjunction with the water authority to create extra water treatment capacity in an existing plant or build a new plant. They won't of course because that requires extra planning which can be contentious and delay the housing development. Essentially they just want to build loads of houses on a site and leg it, and then it's buyer beware.”

Saladodger writes: “Mega City is coming in Derby! Get ready for chaos!”

How do you feel about new housing in Derby? Is it badly needed or will it just add to the urban sprawl? Have your say in our comments section.