The decision to build on this green belt land, protected for 70 years, was eventually made by one politician in Whitehall, on the recommendation of one Inspector.

Two people decided to build. One of them is not in power any more. And the Inspector was trained as an architect, you know, the profession that earns its living by building. My old dad used to say 'its always a bad idea to leave a goat in charge of a cabbage patch'.

Local people did get a hearing at the Public Inquiry, but their contribution carried little weight. The emphasis was on planning policy and procedure. Policies that changes year to year and procedures so complicated that it took a barrister to understand them.

All the voting, all the local discussions were swept away by a ruling from London.

The people who already live around the site will have to bear the increased traffic and population density for ever, their opinions counted for nothing in the end.

The banks were deregulated and it caused chaos, now the green belt has quietly been deregulated too.

What happens next

Within two years work will start on 1200 homes, a college for 3000 people and a hotel. And some shops. And offices. All on Greenbelt land.
A hotel on greenbelt land ! The main argument for the development was that we need more housing, and they are going to use some of it for a hotel !
The planners estimate that there will be about 8000 daily car journeys to and from the site each day. Many of these trips will be down into West Bridgford towards Trent Bridge.

Its going to be lovely.

The result of the inquiry

The Secretary of State has upheld the appeal by Brian Wells and David Wilson Homes. Here is a summary of the decision from the Secretary of State and the Inspector's report.

You can have your say here.

"37. Accordingly, for the reasons given above, the Secretary of State agrees with the
Inspector’s recommendation. He hereby allows your client's appeal and grants
outline planning permission for: residential-led mixed-use development
comprising up to 1,200 dwellings, a 1.5 form entry primary school, a business
innovation centre of up to 2,000 sqm, a further education establishment, up to
2,556 sqm of Class B1 offices, a local centre with up to 2,000 sqm of retail units
plus a community building and health centre, formal sports facilities and a
community park of 35ha, together with associated roads, drainage, service and
green infrastructure, with primary vehicular access from Melton Road and a bus-
only link to Musters Road, at land east and west of Melton Road, Edwalton,
Nottinghamshire, NG12, as described at page 1 of the IR and (except in regard to
replacement of hotel as originally proposed with offices) application number
08/00664/OUT, dated 4 April 2008, subject to the conditions attached at Annex A."

In his report, the Inspector did conclude that;

"There is no dispute that what is proposed is inappropriate development in the
Green Belt. Nor, given the focus of the evidence, is there any dispute that
an urgent need to release land for housing would be the only very special
circumstance which could possibly justify the proposed development. "

But then found that there were 'very special circumstances' to justify the development.

Reactions from local councillors

Cllrs Rod Jones and Karrar Khan have been quick off the mark with their response, we will try to get reactions from other councilors, although some of them who were nominally against the development did not take the opportunity to speak at the Pubic Inquiry, so they might be just as busy now and not have time to comment.

July 6th - Inquiry result due today

No news yet though. Which ever way the appeal goes, we welcome ranters, just click on the Discussion link above to let off steam.

You can now start forum discussions and comment on existing topics without registering with us.

Hazel Blears will not be making the decision

Hazel Blears has left the cabinet and intends to spend more time with her accountant. Its not clear who will make the final decision about the appeal, but rest assured that it won't be the voters.

Decision due on or before 6 July 2009

The Planning Inspectorate have said that the application of David Wilson Homes and Mr Brian Wells to build on Greenbelt land to the East and West of Melton Road, Edwalton, Nottingham, NG12 4DR will be decided by the Secretary of State, Hazel Blears on or before 6 July 2009.

Life is so much simpler when you do away with local democracy.

Curious press release

What follows does not directly concern Sharphill, but today, 12 March 2009 a press release titled Blueprint for long-term East Midlands growth was unveiled. The contents announced by Communities Minister Sadiq Khan included;

The Government has rejected the Panel's recommendation to scrap much of the
Green Belt around Nottingham and instead a full review of land availability will be
carried out both in the existing built up area of Nottingham and around the
conurbation to establish the capacity to accept new building.

At least one part of the government sees the importance of preserving our greenbelt. Lets hope other ministers engage in some joined up thinking.

Sharphill Inquiry over - Inspector to report

The Inquiry is over and the Inspector will now write a report for the Secretary of State. She, Hazel Blears will then decide whether or not to allow the Appeal from David Wilson homes to build on greenbelt land at Sharphill. When the date for the release of the report is available we'll post more about it.

If anybody has any impressions of the Public Inquiry or the planning process for Rushcliffe in general then please contact us and we'll publish your thoughts.

Its disappointing that the decision on whether to build 1200 homes on Sharphill will be taken by central government.

Public Inquiry ends Wednesday 18 February 2009

The Public Inquiry into the plan to build 1200 homes on Sharphill, West Bridgford, has moved much quicker than we thought. The last chance for you to speak will be on Tuesday 17th February 2009, although you need to ask the Inspector the day before.

Please join us outside the inquiry on Tuesday 17th February at 9:15am at the Community Hall on Church Drive West Bridgford. You can also voice your concerns directly to the Inspector, John Gray. He is approachable and sympathetic to us amateurs (ie people who are not barristers), but he does need to know in advance that you want to say something.

The agenda should be on the Rushcliffe web site but if you have trouble finding it there is a copy here..

Why might you want to speak ?

Because the Inquiry does not seem concerned with the proposed extra 8400 car journeys through West Bridgford each day. The Highways people calculate traffic problems from the point of view of motorists, and not from residents, pedestrians, or anybody outside a car.

How bad will the traffic be ?

Planners usually assume 7 trips per household per day. So thats 1200 homes x 7 trips = 8400 trips from homes. But did you know that South Notts College intend to move 3500 students and 250 staff to Sharphill ? Or that there will be offices on the site ?

Some householders might use the bus, and probably most students will, but that in itself amounts to and extra 150 buses moving from the City, through West Bridgford and up the hill.

The traffic models (estimates) were made using Saturn simulations. These calculations are all about traffic flow, not about the annoyance caused to people who spend their lives around the traffic. I could not find anything on the Saturn web site showing proof that past estimates of traffic flow turned out to be accurate in real life.

If anybody finds and documents or statements about the NCC Highway's approach to the Sharphill development, please let us know ! Otherwise it will be in the Inspectors report to Hazel Blears.

Evening Post coverage

Good news

Provision will be made by the developers for three sky larks to nest on land to the west of Sharphill Wood. What great news for those three sky lark families.