The former Babbington Colliery site in Bulwell has been allocated in a new development plan as a site for 500 new homes. The vast spoil tip of the former colliery, known as Stanton Tip, in Hempshill Vale, has been provisionally identified as a site for new housing in the freshly published plan by the Greater Nottingham Planning Partnership, which aims to set out where thousands more homes could be built across the county by 2038.
The site spans 42.65 hectares, with five to 10 hectares of employment space outlined in the plan. News of the site's inclusion in the development plan comes after Nottingham City Council made a decision to sell 40 acres of the land, to the north of the A610 and west of Cinderhill, in 2017.
The land was sold to developers Omnivale, who already owned a large part of the site, ahead of the necessary work needed to build on the old colliery. The land, which has become overgrown and almost resembles a nature reserve, has become used as a local dog walking spot.
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People in the area said they understood the need for more housing in their area, although some voiced concerns about the prospective project. Edwin Elum, 65, a care assistant from Bulwell who works nearby, said: "You do not usually see a lot of houses built around here, there's not much room. It's not a landmark or park, at least the plan would mean using the land.
"In Nottingham and in the whole country there's a shortage of housing. I'm sure there's probably a need for more homes in Bulwell too, a lot of them have been built out elsewhere - like in Hucknall. Wildlife can still be maintained if they keep some green space."
Retired Arnold Bollington, 79, from Bulwell, said: "That'd be great as long as they don't sink into the old tip that used to be there - but I'm sure they'll think of all that. A lot of people walk their dogs up there, and you get ducks and herons up there. It is the wildlife that would be my own concern but I'm sure they can keep some of it.
"But saying that I don't think the land will be missed. There's a housing shortage - it's a good idea, it needs to be put to some sort of use."
However, others in the area had reservations about the development. Jeff Richards, 75, who lives on nearby Paddock Close, said: "I take the dogs up there. It's very popular with people on their bikes or walking their dogs.
"It's like a nature reserve at this point, I've seen deer and all sorts of birds up there. The houses would be on the right hand side of the tip, so it wouldn't be right over these streets which is good, and I'm not against new homes.
"I'm just worried about traffic coming through here. I'm quite concerned that they might put an access road down here [Park Chase], this road is terrible for parking already."
Babbington Colliery was previously known as Cinderhill Colliery and operated from 1840 to 1986. In order for the site to be redeveloped, it was previously reported that the tip would need to be re-profiled, creating a platform. And there's also a need to drain slurry lagoons and fill them in and make them compact.
In 2017, the developers said they would start remediation work and look to build between 500 and 600 homes. Nottingham City Council said the site had been considered for homebuilding for years.
Portfolio holder for leisure, culture and planning, Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “We are working with neighbouring authorities to bring forward a plan which among other things aims to meet housing needs.
"The exciting vision for a reimagined Greater Broad Marsh provides the opportunity for a mixture of uses in the area, enabling people to live near Nottingham Castle and work by Nottingham’s new Green Heart.
“The allocation in the plan would support new homes to be built that would provide a wide mix of types and sizes, for example providing eco-friendly family homes and encouraging graduates and young professionals to stay in the city. The Stanton tip site has been identified as a potential opportunity for new homes for a number of years and if the site were to be developed is likely to be largely family homes.”
A previous plan back in 2009 for Omnivale to reclaim site ahead of its redevelopment fell through because terms could not be agreed, with the value of the land have fallen due to the financial crash.
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