School site goes ontothe market

Permission for a development was granted in March despite objections from local residents concerned about how much additional traffic more housing would bring.

The site on Sparken Hill Road, is adjacent to Ryton Park Primary and Outwood Academy Portland and the road is congested at school drop off and pick up times.

An outline planning application for a housing development was submitted in 2011, bringing with it objections from local residents including a petition. Permission was granted following the signing of the section 106 agreement and the site has now gone on the market.

Kate White, of Betnick Court, who set up the petition, said residents’ concerns including increased traffic and the preservation of trees and wildlife on the site and they would continue pressure to have a say about the site’s future.

She said: “We as a community realise that there is a need for some housing and we understand it (a development) is going to happen one way or another but we would like a bit of a say or at least some of our thoughts to be heard on the type of houses and what they are going to look like.”

Andrew Galloway, from Savills Nottingham who is marketing the site, said: “The former Portland School site offers a prime residential development opportunity with planning consent in a good location. We’re expecting strong interest from developers and housebuilders.”