Richborough was founded in 2003 and is one of the UK’s most successful specialist land promotion businesses with projects across the country. Richborough work in partnership with landowners, councils, local stakeholders and the community to bring forward development schemes that deliver new homes and facilities that meet the needs of a local area.

At the forefront of their ethos, Richborough strive to create sustainable developments that are of high quality and integrate sympathetically with their surroundings.

Newark and Sherwood Council are currently unable to demonstrate an adequate supply of new housing land to meet their Local Housing Need, calculated in line with the Standard Method set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. The council are currently understood to only be able to demonstrate a 3.43 year supply of new housing land, against the required 5 year supply.

It is considered this site can therefore be brought forward in the short term, providing much needed housing for the area and assisting Newark and Sherwood District Council in meeting its housing needs.

The site comprises an agricultural field of around 3.29 hectares located west of Allenby Road and south of Halam Road. The site is in a sustainable location, immediately adjacent to residential area’s and therefore well located to existing services and facilities which could be accessed on foot by future residents. The nearest bus stops to the site are located along Vicarage Road, two minutes’ walk south of the site, which is served by the No.28 bus service offering a regular service to Mansfield and Newark.

The majority of the site is unaffected by flood risk and is located entirely in Flood Zone 1 (low probability of flooding from rivers). There is a high surface water risk along Halam Road and along the northern boundary of the site however appropriate standoffs will ensure there will be no impact to the proposed development.

Part of the southwestern boundary is adjacent to the Southwell Conservation Area. The proposed development scheme has been designed sensitively with an area of open space located adjacent to this area.

There are two Public Rights of Way crossing the site. These routes will be retained as part of the proposal and will run through attractive landscaped areas. In addition, further walking routes will be created around the site for the use of existing and future residents.

The site provides a sustainable opportunity to support growth and deliver new homes in Southwell including much needed affordable housing for young people and families.

The development proposals are for a low-density sensitively designed scheme of around 70 high-quality homes, including around 21 affordable homes, with associated parking, infrastructure works and amenity space.

Of the approximately 70 new homes proposed, a mix of housing is to be provided, informed by local evidence of need, community consultation and ongoing dialogue with the Council.

An illustrative framework plan for the proposed development has been prepared which can be seen below and shows how the development has been designed to fit in with its surroundings.

As part of the proposal, areas of public open space are located to the north, west and south of the site, connected by existing and new footpaths around the development.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems including swales and a drainage pond will manage the surface water on site. The drainage pond will be designed as an attractive natural feature with additional biodiversity benefits and will be located in the northern area of open space.

New homes will be set back from Halam Road and screened by existing hedgerows and mature trees on the northern boundary which will maintain a natural barrier at the gateway into Southwell.

The western area of open space is proposed to include an area for children’s outdoor play equipment, which will provide benefits for existing residents also.

Vehicular access to the site is proposed from Allenby Road as can be seen on the accompanying illustrative framework plan below.

• A high-quality and sustainable development including comprehensive landscape planting and open space to create an attractive gateway to Southwell and ensure the development blends with the edge of settlement location;
• Around 70 homes offering a range of affordable and market opportunities for all ages, including smaller homes and family housing. At least 5% of the homes on the site will be bungalows;
• Landscaped public open space area in the north, south and west of the site will create a pleasant environment for users of the existing Public Rights of Way and new footpaths;
• An equipped children’s outdoor play area to benefit new and existing residents;
• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems including a drainage pond and swales to effectively manage surface water runoff across the development but also amenity and ecological benefits;
• A 10% net gain in the biodiversity of the site as a direct result of the development.