New homes plan gets the go-ahead

The Planning Board voted unanimously in favour of the scheme at a meeting on Thursday morning.

Westleigh Developments and Arches Housing, who are behind the plans, say that work could start on the site as soon as the end of this month.

The scheme will see 75 homes built on derelict land off East Street, along with access roads, open spaces and landscaping.

The homes will be a mix of private and shared ownership properties.

The developers hope that the first phase of the build will be complete by the end of August.

Dinnington town and borough councillor Simon Tweed told the planning board that the development was a ‘dream come true’ for Dinnington.

“Anybody that knows that area in the last five or six years since the school was knocked down knows its been nothing but a dumping ground,” he said.

“The site has been an complete eye sore and a blot on the local landscape.”

“To get somebody to come in and develop this land, with a commitment to bring affordable housing is fantastic.”

“A lot of the comments that myself and the other ward councillors have had from people is that there is not enough affordable housing in Dinnington.”

“It is a dream come true for Dinnington and I welcome the development.”

Sally Stead from Archers Housing said a lot of hard work had gone in to the scheme.

“All the feedback from local people is really positive. They want to see this development happen,” she added.

The developers were on hand to answer any questions residents had at a public consultation at the Dinnington Resource Centre on Friday.

A company spokesman said that all the feedback they had received from local people during the day had been positive.

“People have been saying that they are really pleased that something is bring done with the land,” he said.

“People feel that it has been a run-down open space in the town for too long.”

The land was the site of a primary school, playing field and 26 homes, but was demolished when the new Dinnington Community Primary School was built.