Top Wighay Farm: £10.3 million development near Hucknall gets the green light

The multi-million pound scheme, at Top Wighay Farm in Linby, will include 805 homes, a new primary school, a community centre and a safeguarded route for a potential future extension of the Nottinghamshire tram network.

The development will also feature land for offices and warehouses plus associated public open space for the community and associated infrastructure.

The scheme applicant was Nottinghamshire County Council which worked with Pegasus Group to prepare the application.

It is hoped 1,000 full-time jobs could be created at the development, with a £870 million boost to the local economy over 10 years.

A Gedling Borough Council spokesperson said: “A key priority for Gedling Borough Council is to create a more vibrant economy and create sustainable growth across the borough which includes the creation of key housing sites as set out in the council’s local plan.

The council’s planning committee granted planning permission for the application for land at Top Wighay Farm in line with the planning officer's recommendation.

"The site will deliver much needed housing including affordable homes, a new primary school, employment space and local facilities.

“Approval was granted, subject to developers entering into agreements with the borough council and the county council to contribute towards affordable housing, education, health, highways and public open space in the surrounding area, to help reduce the impact of the development.”

Explaining the need for development on its application, the county council said: "Not enough homes are being built to meet the demand, resulting in a need to boost the supply of new homes.

“Demand for housing in and around Nottinghamshire is high, new homes are needed to meet the needs of existing and future residents and the site at Top Wighay Farm is formally allocated for residential and employment development by Gedling Borough Council in the Greater Nottingham Aligned Core Strategies (2014).”

Pegasus Group secured the approval on behalf of the Arc Partnership for Nottinghamshire County Council.

The project also received £3 million from D2N2 last year towards infrastructure improvements on the site including the expansion of a roundabout on the A611/Annesley Road and a new signal-controlled junction to manage traffic flow to and from the site.

Gedling Borough Council has been approached for comment.