People living on a “friendly street'' in Sherwood have spoken of their concerns over a new supported living complex for vulnerable people - saying it felt like the prospective residents would be 'squeezed in' and the development would be 'dumped on everyone'. Their comments come after plans for the development were deferred over issues to do with the amount of garden space at the new block, the loss of light and privacy.
The 13 supported living homes proposed by Hockley Developments for the site in Hall Lane, near Mansfield Road in Sherwood, had been due to be given the green light last month by councillors sitting on the city council's planning committee. But councillors made the point that they thought the garden was the size of a 'car parking space' with astroturf instead of grass.
Residents had also raised concerns to do with the number of off-street car parking spaces earmarked for the complex amid existing parking strains. Vacant industrial buildings had been proposed for demolition to allow for the development that'd be slightly larger than what's there already.
Councillors said the plans were not suitable in the current form, deferring making a decision and asking Hockley Developments for more information. Local residents have also been vocal about the size of the development, saying it felt like the prospective tenants at the complex would be 'crammed in'.
Sean Long, 41, said he and his neighbours had “lots of concerns and objections”. Mr Long said: “I feel like this development has been dumped on everyone. I’ve got quite involved in fighting against it and I’ve spoken to my local councillors for support. This development will be cramming people into something too small and people don’t know who will be living there, it has been alluded that there will be people with long term mental health and disabilities.”
Mr Long had found out that the application had been deferred last week. The business analyst continued and said: “A lot of people have lots of concerns and objections but the council hasn’t said how problems will be resolved, like the issue with parking.”
The proposed new building would provide a total of 13 supported living homes. Each would have one bedroom, a shower room, and a kitchen/living space. The accommodation would face onto the adjoining streets and to outside space. On the ground floor, there would be a shared communal area.
Under the plans, the rear external space would include a single storey staff room building and two off-street staff car parking spaces. Local resident Claire Wilkie, 73, also shared her concerns. One of her main concerns is traffic.
The Hall Street resident said: “For me, it’s the parking and traffic, it’s unusual for few cars to be on this road. It's the height [of the building] and the number of people. We don’t quite know who will be in there, too.”
Similarly, business owner Soroya Cordery is against the development. Her shop The Mystic Moon is in Hall Street. She fears development could affect her business if the application is approved.
Ms Cordery told Nottinghamshire Live: “They're not being very forthcoming. That could be anyone living there like people coming out of prison. It [the development] will overshadow my shop and customers, I’m recovering from Covid and if it [the development] blocks the road, it will affect my business.
“There’s not enough information about the development and residents aren’t being informed, I have nothing against vulnerable people but it's [the development] an inconvenience to my business and residents.”
Officials from Hockley Developments invited residents to a meeting on June 29 to listen to concerns. Local councillors were also expected to attend.
One resident on Hall Street, who asked to remain anonymous, told Nottinghamshire Live: “I’m supportive of it [the development]. It's a friendly street here. However, I am concerned about the scale of the development.
“With the right support, I think it’s a positive thing, vulnerable people need someone to live, too. I’m also concerned about the height of the building and lack of green space.”
A spokesperson for Hockley Developments has said: "As a way of background, before we submit any plans we discuss them with planners, and ensure they satisfy all planning policy, as well as end users to make sure these can be great, sustainable new homes for them. As we know Sherwood has very little new, sustainable residential property, and these will be exactly this – providing homes that are desperately needed.
“We wrote to all local residents in March of this year to let them know more about the citizens of Sherwood who are eager to move into these new homes on Hall Street in the near future, and had a lot of positive feedback directly."
The officials highlighted that other residents had been in support of the development. “We build a number of these developments in the city, and often there has been no space for any off street car parking – the residents do not have cars, and rely on public transport and being close to local amenities, which is why this location is ideal for them. So the two off street parking spaces will be more than enough – and bike storage is also being provided.
“Currently the [existing] building could be used for a variety of uses, such as a restaurant, a creche, a gym, or light industrial which would all mean far more parking issues – so we are actually removing parking concerns from Hall Street."
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