Brailsford housing plan denied due to concerns over drainage, flooding risks and lacking community benefits.
The Derbyshire Dales council voted against the plan, in a close five to four vote. However, council officers thought the plan was okay and felt there was no risk of flooding.
Councillors disagreed about the drainage details and wanted more information before approving. John Whitby MP warned about flood risks too, thinking the plan could harm locals.
Whitby noted the increased housing targets, stating the Dales now need to build more homes. He said Brailsford has already built a lot; he wants developers to use brownfield sites first.
Whitby also said the plan lacks affordable housing, believing locals wouldn’t benefit from it. He believes developers tweak plans until they get approved, prioritizing profit over the community.
The parish council also opposed the housing, claiming it won’t help solve the UK’s housing issues. They feel it lacks positive economic or social impact and could disrupt village life during construction.
Residents feel unheard in the decision-making process, stating existing infrastructure is overburdened. The school is full, and the medical center is stretched; these concerns are growing every day.
Residents fear existing flooding will worsen, and many drainage questions remain unanswered. They also feel some historic drainage records are missing.
Gladman argued their plan would improve drainage and stated it would be a positive addition to Brailsford. They expect the village to be better after the houses are built.
One councillor criticized the government’s housing goals, saying Derbyshire Dales could turn into a concrete jungle. Another councillor said approving the plan would be negligent.
The chair of the meeting felt forced to vote this way. Another councillor said the details about drainage were too uncertain and expressed uncertainty about the plans for this reason.
