160 homes on former prisoner of war camp get final approval

PLANS HAVE BEEN REDUCED OVER TIME, DOWN FROM 175 HOMES SET TO BE BUILT ON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SITE

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

THE final piece of the jigsaw sealing plans for 160 homes on a former Derbyshire prisoner of war camp turned industrial estate have been approved.

On Monday night, Amber Valley Borough Council approved plans from Garner Holdings to build 160 homes - including 45 classed as affordable housing - on the Firs Works site in Spanker Lane, Nether Heage, which was also formerly the PoW “Camp 58” during the Second World War.

This brings an end to the wrangle over the industrial site, which has been stretching on for the best part of a decade due to the feared impact of the proposals on the surrounding Green Belt and road safety issues on the steep and narrow Spanker Lane, which does not have a pavement.

No development will take place in the Green Belt, and over time, the plans have been reduced slightly from 175 homes, and a caged play area has been scrapped in lieu of standard open play equipment.

At the meeting, frustrated residents, 68 of whom had filed objection letters to the council, threatened legal action should anyone come to harm on the roads past the site as a result of the development.

They reiterated significant concerns over road safety for children walking to school and from heavy industrial vehicles on the steep sloping route, alongside existing recurring flooding issues.