Plans for 4,000 homes delayed after landowner pulls out of deal

A major development of 4,000 homes has been delayed after a landowner pulled out a deal to build a new Garden Village in Bassetlaw.

Bassetlaw District Council has been forced to delay the submission of its draft local plan until June to allow for a final round of targeted consultation after one of the two landowners unexpectedly withdrew their site from the proposed Garden Village development.

This means that the council’s scheme has been delayed, but it says the setback means there will be no increase in the housing numbers for any other part of the district. This is because the Garden Village was to be self-sustainable and balanced its housing numbers with its employment land.

Subject to approval by Cabinet, the next step is for the council to undertake an Addendum Consultation, ahead of submitting the plan to the Independent Planning Inspectorate.

Councillor Jo White, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Bassetlaw District Council said: “It is extremely disappointing that one of the landowners has pulled their site from the Garden Village at this late stage. Having a landowner of a key site pull out at this stage of a Local Plan is so unusual we can’t find an example of it happening elsewhere.”

“We are required by Government to complete this Local Plan by 2023 and work will continue to take the draft local plan forward as it will deliver significant infrastructure improvements across Bassetlaw. Residents have told us that they want to see investment in new schools, improved GP surgeries, new roads and cycle paths, new bus routes, new play areas and sports pitches. A local plan will deliver on these priorities.”