Hucknall MP accuses developers of 'contempt' over Whyburn 3,000 homes plan

Bloor Homes and Peveril Homes have submitted an outline application that includes 3,000 new homes on green belt land, along with a primary school and nursery, sports pitches and an extra care facility, as well as other elements.

The developers say the scheme could bring up to £80m of investment into Hucknall.

But green belt campaigners and local councillors are fiercely opposed to the plans, saying Hucknall’s already creaking infrastructure cannot take any more development.

And Ms Welsh (Lab) says she is also strongly against the development.

She said: “I am utterly opposed to the planning application for 3,000 homes on Whyburn Farm.

"Let me begin by saying that the contempt shown by the developers towards local residents and towards me as the local MP is deplorable.

"I found out about this application, not from the developers, but from the Hucknall Dispatch at 4.35pm on February 25.

"Since then, I have sought an urgent update directly from the developers.

"Prior to this, there has been no correspondence whatsoever between my office and the developers about this planning application.

"The last contact I received from the developers was in October 2025 as they attempted to arrange a private meeting, despite my very clear request that any engagement on a proposal of this scale should take place publicly and transparently.

"That is simply not good enough.

"Whyburn is not just a piece of land. It is a valued green space with cultural and heritage significance, deeply woven into the identity of Hucknall.

"Generations of families walk it, cherish it, and regard it as part of their community’s story.

"The strength of public feeling against this development has been clear and consistent.

"The people of Hucknall do not want this.”

Ms Welsh is currently trying to get Whyburn and Misk Hills – where a separate plan for 100 homes off Common Lane is currently being decided upon by a Government planning inspector – safeguarded a country park.

However, this would need Ashfield Council to find a huge sum of money to buy the land – money it hasn’t got unless it can get help from the Government.

Ms Welsh says she is continuing to work towards this but she also criticised Ashfield Council for its lack of a Local Plan which as left sites like Whyburn and Misk Hills vulnerable to development proposals.

She continued: “I have repeatedly raised with Government the need to secure Whyburn Farm and Misk Hills as a protected country park so that it can be preserved for future generations.

"It is deeply disappointing that Ashfield Council’s proposed Local Plan was weak and failed to comply in a way that would have properly safeguarded this site.

"A sound and robust Local Plan would have protected Whyburn Farm and Misk Hills from development of this magnitude.

"This fight is not over.

"I will be taking this matter back to Government and continuing to press for Whyburn Farm and Misk Hills to be formally protected as a country park.

“Our community deserves transparency, respect, and planning decisions that reflect the will of local people - not developments imposed in spite of them."

You Dispatch has approached the developers for comment.