Land Adjoining The Croft Chesterfield Road Darfoulds Nottinghamshire

1. 1.The development is not sustainably located within accessible proximity to facilities and services, and the proposed layout and scale would not be appropriate for the countryside location. The proposed densification would cause irreversible harm to the Magnesium Limestone Ridge landscape character. The proposals are contrary to Policies ST1, ST2, ST33 and ST35 of the Bassetlaw Local Plan.
2. 2.The proposals comprise inappropriately-sized rear gardens and dwellings situated near a foul pumping station, which would unacceptably undermine future residents' amenity in contravention of Policy 46 of the Bassetlaw Local Plan and the Design Code SPD.
3. 3.The introduction of 18no. dwellings on the sensitive A619/A60 junction would lead to an unacceptable increased risk of rear end shunts / sideway impacts in main traffic flow when entering and exiting the site. Although the junction is identified in the Bassetlaw Transport Study 2022 for future improvements, the junction serves several allocated sites in the area and would be over capacity once these allocated sites are delivered. The design fails to address potential impacts of the proposals on the transport network and undermine highway safety, and are therefore contrary to Policies ST52 and ST53 of the Bassetlaw Local Plan.
4. 4.Internally within the site, the proposed design is not conducive to active movement or maintenance access by virtue of narrow road widths, lack of footpaths, unclear visibility splays, insufficient access to the pumping station, irrationalised amenity landscaping, unoverlooked parking and insufficient visitor parking. The proposals are therefore contrary to Policies ST52 and ST53 of the Bassetlaw Local Plan.
5. 5.Insufficient ecological surveys have been undertaken at this time, and therefore potential adverse effects on protected species (great crested newts and badgers) cannot be ruled out. This information is required by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) and Circular 06/05: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation.
6. 6.The development will result in an unacceptable impact on the Oak Tree situated on the northern boundary of the site. The application is not supported by a Tree Survey or Arboriculture Impact Assessment, and it is considered that the foundations of Plots 11, 12 and 13 would likely encroach on the root protect zone of the Oak Tree to the detriment of its long-term health. In addition, given the proximity of these dwellings to the Oak Tree it is likely that the rear gardens and rear windows of these dwellings will consistently be in the shadow of the Oak Tree which will inevitably lead to future residents wanting to remove the Oak Tree to allow more sunlight to the their gardens and the rear of their dwellings. It is therefore considered that the proposals are contrary to Policy ST38 and ST39 of the Bassetlaw Local Plan.

From the council's decision notice.

Date validated

20 March 2026