RESOLUTION TO GRANT PLANNING GIVEN FOR 2,239 HOUSE SCHEME IN THE MIDLANDS Monday, 2nd August 2010
South Derbyshire District Council on the 27th July 2010 resolved to grant planning permission for the major brownfield regeneration scheme, Drakelow Park.
The development, which lies 3km to the south of Burton-upon-Trent, will deliver a sustainable community incorporating family, first time buyer, retirement and affordable housing together with an employment park which will create in the region of 1,500 new jobs. The sustainable scheme will also provide a new school, health centre and a neighbourhood centre with retail, food and drink facilities and a nursery.
Listed Building Consent was granted in July 2009 for the refurbishment of the Grade II listed stables and cottages which remain from the former Drakelow Hall. Investment will renovate these for community and neighbourhood facilities set around a village square. In addition, 35 per cent of the site will be green space including a new riverside and woodland park, nature trails, sports pitches and open space.
The planning application was submitted by Roger Bullivant Ltd (RBL) and E.ON UK (E.ON) which own land at Drakelow. Home to RBL’s headquarters, the site is currently used as an industrial and manufacturing facility. It is their intention to relocate the business onto the adjacent site; ensuring that it can continue to operate competitively in South Derbyshire, safeguarding 800 jobs.
As part of the application, a significant investment into improved bus facilities will ensure a ten minute service to local centres. A multimillion pound package of transport improvements is included to deliver a new junction at Stapenhill Railway bridge, improvements along Rosliston Road and Caldwell Road, the A38 and the widening of Walton Road as well as a new direct access from the site to the A38.
Chris Chatfield, from Roger Bullivant Ltd, said: "We are delighted the resolution to grant planning has been given. The team has put many years of time and effort into creating the best possible scheme for the site. It is fantastic news for both Bullivants as a business and for South Derbyshire in terms of the opportunities that Drakelow Park can deliver”.
"This is a comprehensive and sustainable solution for this brownfield site. The scheme will provide family, retirement and affordable homes as well as creating 1,500 new jobs, delivering green space, amenities and facilities.
“We will now begin to work on the detail and development could commence as early as next year. The first phase, which will take between six and eight years to deliver, will include the delivery of up to 1,000 dwellings and a local centre. Relocation of the Bullivant Business would not happen until the latter stages of this phase.”
In resolving to grant outline planning permission for the scheme, the Chair of the Planning Committee Councillor Martyn Ford praised the David Lock Associates’ master plan for the site as a “fabulous” scheme able to deliver “iconic development” and a “quantum leap” for South Derbyshire.
Heather Pugh, Director of David Lock Associates, said: ”this resolution represents the culmination of 6 years of consultation and 18 months’ of intensive liaison with the planning authority, who are commended for taking a positive approach to deliver new development in their district in the face of the present uncertainty in the planning system”.
More information is available by contacting 0844 8425270, emailing drakelowpark@beattiegroup.com or visit www.drakelowpark.com
