Green light for north-east Derbyshire housing scheme

Planning has been approved on Forge New Homes’ first site in Pilsley, north east Derbyshire.

The group, a partnership between five Sheffield housing providers, formed in September last year, has had approval to move forward with plans for a 98-home development.

The scheme, close to Clay Cross and Chesterfield, will be a mixture of bungalows, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes for sale and two- and three-bedroom homes for shared ownership and affordable rent.

Forge New Homes is backed by five leading housing associations – Great Places Housing Group, Yorkshire Housing, Together Housing, South Yorkshire Housing Association and the Guinness Partnership. These housing associations own and manage 150,000 homes across the country.

Andy Beattie, project director at Forge New Homes, said: “We’re excited to have planning approved to move ahead with our landmark first scheme. This mix-tenure development will provide 98 high-quality much needed new homes in the area.

“Despite the challenges we’ve made considerable progress in our first year. The company is working closely with both private and public sector organisations to bring new sites forward and heads of terms have been agreed on two further sites.”

Steve Close, chief executive of Together Housing and chair of Forge New Homes, added: “We’re delighted to have the green light on our Pilsley site, our important first step in addressing our region’s housing need. Now planning is approved, we look forward to getting construction underway and making a difference.”

Forge New Homes says it is also keen to work in partnership with other public and private sector organisations to participate in project delivery.

Close said: “We would welcome contact and discussions with any public or private sector organisation that can help us to access sites or otherwise help us with the delivery of new homes.”

Work is due to start on the new site in Spring 2021.