Developer Brightsea Sarl's 600-home plan for Sinfin Central Business Park, Sinfin Lane, 'would spare greenfield sites', say planning officers
A 600-HOME development in Sinfin has been earmarked for approval, despite fears extra cars will cause traffic delays.
Developer Brightsea Sarl wants to replace industrial units at Sinfin Central Business Park, off Sinfin Lane, with up to 600 homes.
The development would include a "local centre" with shops, eateries and a building that could become a health centre or nursery.
Derby City Council planning officers have recommended the application for approval, saying the development "may reduce pressure" on greenfield sites around the edge of the city.
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The authority received two letters and a 63-name petition against the plan.
Access to the development would be via Goodsmoor Road and Sinfin Lane and objectors fear extra cars would lead to longer delays, especially in Goodsmoor Road, which has a single-lane bridge over the railway line.
Maria Kimberlin, of Westcroft Avenue, which is off Goodsmoor Road, was among those against the proposal but said she was now "resigned to it going ahead".
She said: "It's land that is not being used and I'm sure it has to be used for something.
"But we are worried that the extra traffic might affect us getting out of our street."
Other objections were that the roads around the site – Sinfin Lane, Wordsworth Avenue, Goodsmoor Road, and Stenson Road – would all be hit by extra traffic, that "air quality" would drop because of exhaust fumes and that there was not enough space allocated for parking.
No-one from John Martin and Associates, acting as agents for Brightsea Sarl, were available for comment yesterday.
But a transport report in their application, from Cannon Consulting Engineers, says that the site would be accessible on foot and by bike, "so there is a good opportunity to replace trips by private car".
It says: "There is an excellent bus service that operates within easy walking distance of the whole site which provides a good quality and high frequency service to and from the city centre.
"The development will ensure that extensive footways and cycle ways are provided throughout and would link with the surrounding infrastructure on Sinfin Lane and Goodsmoor Road."
The report claims the development would increase the congestion on the Derby road network in 2026 by 4% in the morning peak and 3% in the afternoon peak.
A final decision on the application will be made by the city council's planning control committee on Thursday.
Planning officers have drawn up a report recommending it for the go-ahead, saying it would mean "a major loss of employment land" but that it would make a "significant contribution towards meeting housing needs over the next five years".
Comments
by OllyB1
Sunday, February 03 2013, 10:21PM
“Crazy, Derby's roads cannot cope with the quantity of traffic we already have. All this will mean is more time local residents will spend in queues just so a few executive sorts can screw a fast buck”