Bassetlaw approves 1,250-home garden village

Farming family Howard’s application for a neighbourhood with a community hub, 57-acre park, and primary school, was one of two large-scale residential-led approvals at the council’s planning committee meeting last Thursday.

The second was Vistry Group and Nottinghamshire County Council’s plan for 95 homes on the former Manton Primary School site. The school has been shut down since 2008.

Both approval decisions were in line with officer recommendation.

Ordsall South Garden Village

Several years in the making, plans were first submitted for the garden village in 2022. The village is earmarked for 250 acres of farmland situated on the southern edge of Ordsall. Most of the land belongs to the Howard family, who are fifth-generation farmers and the ones behind the application.

The land is allocated for up to 1,250 homes in the area’s local plan, which the application had campaigned for. During the local plan process, the developer had envisaged a 2040 completion – but that had also been with a 2025-26 start.

The approved application is an outline one, but includes rough allocations for land use. Around 100 acres is to be dedicated to 1,250 homes, of which a quarter would be designated as affordable.

The proposed community park will be 57 acres and include a two-kilometre pedestrian and cycle trail, wildflower meadows, and an adventure playground. There are also seven additional acres set aside for playing pitches and another 10 for green infrastructure.

A community hub would occupy a single acre, while 2.5 acres set west of Ollerton Road would be for the local centre. The primary school would sit on six acres and the extra care facility on five.

Bassetlaw Council’s cabinet member for identity, planning, and place, Cllr Steve Scotthorne described the project’s approval as “positive news” for the area.

“I’m pleased that the developers have provided options for homeowners at different ends of the scale, including affordable homes, and properties that will be specifically aimed at the older population,” he said.

“The plans also include much needed community facilities including a school, sports facilities, meeting places, and parks and woodland that will benefit the local ecology and people, including pedestrian and cycle routes to promote healthy lifestyles.”

Scotthorne also touched on the opposition the project had faced – having received around 200 letters of objection.

“Subject to a Section 106 Agreement and further planning consents, I am confident that some of the concerns that existing residents have raised around infrastructure, drainage and flooding, and the local wildlife can be addressed,” he said.

“This application also ensures that the council has a demonstrable five-year housing supply and can prevent unwanted speculative development in our district.”

Stantec worked alongside Howard on the proposals for the garden village, with Development Planning providing transport advice, PJA on flood risk, and Tyler Grange on arboriculture. The project team also includes Ecology Solutions and Reading Agricultural Consultants.

You can learn more about the application by searching reference 22/01633/OUT on Bassetlaw Council’s planning portal.

Corstorphine & Wright Architects drew up the proposals for the former Manton Primary School site. Credit: via planning documents

Former Manton Primary School

Vacant for 18 years, the next chapter for the former Manton Primary School site by Worksop is ready to begin.

Vistry Group and Nottinghamshire County Council secured planning approval for their plans for the nine-acre site. The duo plan to build 95 homes there, 20% of which would be designated affordable.

The homes themselves will be a mix of terraced, semi-detached, and detached houses. There will be 10 one-bedroom homes, 25 two-bedroom houses, 56 three-bedroom properties, and four four-bed ones.

Access to the development will be from Kingston Road.

In addition to the homes, the proposals drawn up by Corstorphine & Wright Architects including provision for three acres of open space.

TEP is leading on landscape, ecology, arboriculture, and planning for the project. JPP Consulting is the engineer.

You can learn more about the project by searching reference 025/01127/FUL on Bassetlaw Council’s planning portal.