Forum

Councillor Chandra Kanneganti & Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association jointly offer their input to proposals placed forward by Northstone to build up to 400 houses at Hollywall Lane, Sandyford.

Increased Traffic on the Road Network

According to Government statistics over 77% of households have at least one car and 34% two or more.

The provision of an additional 400 houses there suggests an increase of around 450 vehicles using Broadfield Road or Hollywall Lane.

Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association and Councillor Kanneganti jointly agreed they were not happy with any proposed traffic increase, which needs to be addressed.

Increased demand on Local Resources

Doctor’s surgery – Councillor Kanneganti, local G.P. said he is managing with the patients he already has with his surgery, but would need extra workforce, including GPs should the development go ahead.

Northstone said there is money built into the plan to build new infrastructure for the area, but this would need to be in place, including new medical requirements before any plan is agreed.

School places – A Welfare Officer/Visitor for schools confirms there is not enough places for an addition of approximately 200 children, even though the property developer questions this.

Loss of Greenbelt The resident’s association and councillor believe the greenbelt location should not be built on, and it is confirmed it is cheaper to build on greenbelt land rather than brown or a grey belt location.

Biodiversity If planning permission is approved, the resident’s association and councillor would insist biodiversity money to compensate the loss of greenspace must be spent in Sandyford & Goldenhill. Previously, e.g. trees planted in the area, it was agreed where at least ½ the money goes to purchase the shrubbery and the other ½ to maintain it.

Concerns were raised regarding building work access to the site with such a large development taking place should it go ahead and would need to be addressed.

The committee and councillor believe in their neutrality at this present time that they accept more properties need to be built, but emphasised Sandyford & Goldenhill has lost too much green space this century with the Reginald Mitchell and Brindley Village estates both in Sandyford.

It was also mentioned that surrounding the Sandyford/Goldenhill area that planning permission has already been proposed for Packmoor and Harriseahead.

The councillor and resident’s association believe when developers are looking to build more housing, they should concentrate more on brown belt locations.

The councillor and resident’s association say that the infrastructure needs to be in place first with e.g. Highways before anything moves forward.

It is also a suggestion that Reginald Mitchell Way (Sandyford) leading to the A500/D’Road needs to be dual carriageway to facilitate any increased traffic.

The councillor and resident’s association acknowledge that Northstone are trying to work with us in the community by undertaking a consultation.