Campaigners fear impact of 200 new homes in Staveley after recent storm
Land off Bent Lane was waterlogged after recent wet weather - despite being earmarked for housing
Last updated 24th Nov 2025
Alarmed residents have raised fresh fears about plans for up to 200 homes on mainly greenfield land in a Derbyshire town after they say the area suffered flooding and waterlogged fields following a recent storm.
Chesterfield Borough Council’s planning committee is due to consider the authority’s own planning application for the housing scheme off Bent Lane, at Lowgates, in Staveley, which has attracted an Environment Agency objection due to the absence of an acceptable Flood Risk Assessment even though the agency has suggested this may be resolved with a further revised statement.
However, after worried residents originally raised concerns about potential flooding and ground hazards from former coal mining activities they are claiming the site has been seen underwater and the area has recently suffered waterlogged fields around Norbriggs Flash Nature Reserve.
Resident Gary Hillgrove, of nearby Riverdale Park, said: “This is what we have been saying for months. The fields are saturated. Building over 15,000sq metres of roof – that’s two-and-a-half football pitches of concrete – on this land will turn a problem into a catastrophe for our homes.
“The experts are now saying publicly what we all know privately – this plan is dangerous.”
The Environment Agency originally objected to the development in the absence of an acceptable Flood Risk Assessment but it suggested this might be resolved with a revised assessment.
However, after considering amended documents from the borough council the EA has stated that an amended FRA still does not satisfactorily address its concerns and it has maintained its objection to the scheme and in the absence of an adequate FRA it has recommended that planning permission be refused.
The EA stated that for the council to overcome the objection it would need to submit a revised flood risk assessment considering how a range of flooding events will affect people and properties and it would need to take the impacts of climate change into account.
Ian and Barbara Halbert, of Bent Lane, have said that the River Doe Lea flooded, last year, right across the proposed site which they say floods every year and that the Park Homes, in Bent Lane, with their elderly population, has also suffered flooding and a neighbour across the road from the site has also had flood water up to his back door.
The couple also highlighted how the Coal Authority – now known as the Mining Remediation Authority – had also raised a ‘fundamental concern’ due to coal mining features and hazards at the site and it had originally objected to the scheme subject to a Coal Mining Risk Assessment.
However, following an assessment by GRM Development Solutions which stated that risks may be reduced following a number of recommendations, the MRA has withdrawn its objection subject to recommended intrusive site investigations on shallow mine workings with trial trenching for mine entries.
The housing scheme’s approximate 6.29hectare site is mainly on greenfield, agricultural land off Bent Lane which is accessed from the A619 and proposals include one primary access into the site and new landscaping, public open space plans, walking and cycling links.
Chesterfield Borough Council claims the site is in a sustainable location with settlements nearby providing service facilities, food, convenience, health care and employment opportunities.
However, the council received 290 public comments during a consultation including concerns about flooding and objections about a feared increase in traffic and road safety hazards along a narrow road, a loss of green space, the impact on wildlife and significant claims that part of the site already suffers from flooding.
Others have also raised concerns the site is not suitable because it was previously used for mining activity and that there have already been agreed housing developments in and around Staveley and the area’s infrastructure may struggle from a further scheme in terms of schools, health services and drainage.
Derbyshire County Council’s highways authority has recommended the application be deferred pending additional information after also raising concerns about the need to upgrade and widen Bent Lane alongside access and safety worries.
It has also expressed concerns that some of the borough council’s traffic figures have been based on the development of 140 homes and not 200.
The NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board has also requested a Section 106 infrastructure contribution of £200,000 from the developers to help it deal with an expected increase in the area’s population.
However, Natural England, which submitted no objections to the scheme, stated that it considers the proposed development will not have significant adverse impacts on statutorily protected nature conservation sites or landscapes.
Chesterfield Canal Trust has also raised no objections arguing there are unlikely to be any adverse impacts on the canal according to the scheme’s drainage plans.
The Ramblers Association raised some concerns about how two nearby footpaths might be affected but they too have raised no objections.
Chesterfield Borough Council has argued the scheme will help to meet strategic housing requirements locally and nationally because the region will be required to plan for 500 homes per year.
It added that this latest development is sustainable and will deliver economic, social and environmental benefits including identified housing needs for Chesterfield with a minimum of five per cent affordable housing provision as well as job creation.
The council also claims the design of the scheme and its associated open space and green infrastructure seeks to provide numerous benefits for future users and the environment particularly in respect of biodiversity enhancements.
It has argued Staveley has an ‘excellent level of facilities and services’ to support the scheme including several schools, a college, shops, a large retail store, pharmacy, community services and other retail and employment options with several recreational areas and there are regular bus services running to Duckmanton, Staveley town centre, Worksop and Brimington.
The council’s senior engineering technician has advised the development should include separate foul and surface water systems and that the developer must demonstrate adherence to the ‘hierarchy of surface water disposal’, providing results of any infiltration tests and drainage calculations to support any Sustainable Drainage Systems solutions.
Save Bent Lane campaigners held a demonstration in September at the proposed site with an estimated turn out of 150 residents expressing their opposition to the plans.
A Chesterfield Borough Council spokesperson said: “We understand that plans for any new development may raise concerns for local people around a range of issues, including things like traffic and flood risk, and people are invited to put forward any concerns as part of the consultation process.
“We aware of the comments that have been raised by consultees as part of the application process on this application, and all comments and feedback received will be taken into consideration before a final decision is made.
“The application is currently under review and will be considered by our planning committee.”
The council’s planning committee is expected to consider the authority’s application at a pending meeting.