Retford scheme for 22 apartments turned down by planning committee
Plans for four apartment blocks on land off Raglan Road in Retford have been refused by Bassetlaw Council planners.
The scheme for 22 two-bedroom apartments in four residential blocks, with parking, was planned to go on brownfield land previously hosting gasworks and landfill, that is next to Retford conservation area, and the Chesterfield Canal.
Reasons for refusal of the scheme related to several concerns, including that of safe access to the site. Others included the displacement of parking used by residents of Raglan Road, with worsened accessibility for emergency vehicles, and a failure to meet the demand for three-bed units in the East Retford area, or to support diverse or balanced communities.
There was also seen to be a risk of harm to the setting of the grade II-listed Grove Mill and Chesterfield Canal non-designated Heritage Asset.
Historic gasworks and landfill uses of the site both present risks to groundwater contamination, said planners, with insufficient information submitted to confirm that contaminants or infill materials from previous land uses have been sufficiently remediated, and that the risk to controlled waters is suitably mitigated.
A residents' petition of over 100 names was raised against the development by residents of Alma Road, Raglan Road, Eagle Place and Armstrong Close.