Derby councillors have been locked in a heated dispute over the council’s local plan after a vote to progress the document towards a Government deadline later this year. The plan, which sets out where new homes will be built in the city to 2043, would see space allocated for around 12,500 homes.
Key contested sites and public opposition
Public objections raised during the consultation focused on a proposed Traveller site in Wilmorton and plans for 400 homes on land off Stoney Lane adjacent to the A52. Despite those objections, councillors agreed the sites should remain earmarked for housing as the plan moves forward.
- Wilmorton – proposed Traveller site; raised strong opposition during consultation
- Stoney Lane – site for 400 homes beside the A52, also broadly contested
- Further consultation limited to questions of the plan’s legality and soundness, not site locations
Political faultlines over parks, HMOs and timing
Reform Derby, led by Councillor Tim Prosser, warned that the local plan would permit development on public open spaces including Shaftesbury Park and Wilmorton Recreation Ground. The group argued the policies would weaken efforts to tackle a perceived crisis in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and would not address parking pressures.
"To me putting policy in place that allows people to build on public parks, public open space and school playing fields is a big big mistake," Councillor Tim Prosser said.
Reform Derby lodged an amendment seeking tighter controls on HMOs and parking, but it was defeated. Labour councillors countered that attempting to alter the plan now would cause delay and risk leaving the city without up-to-date policy, which they warned might allow developers to build without proper controls.
What happens next?
The next stage of consultation will be limited to the plan’s legal compliance and whether it is sound. That means the council will not reopen consultation on the choice of specific sites for housing. The decision to press on is designed to meet a crucial central Government deadline later in the year.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total homes in plan | 12,500 |
| Contested site — Wilmorton | Proposed Traveller site; public opposition |
| Contested site — Stoney Lane | 400 homes adjoining the A52 |
For Derby residents the immediate consequences are twofold. First, local open spaces and some neighbourhoods face the prospect of being included in development plans even where strong local opposition exists. Second, with the forthcoming consultation restricted to procedural questions, there will be limited opportunity to contest site choices through the city’s formal process.
Councillors supporting the timetable say that delaying the plan risks leaving the city without an up-to-date local planning framework, which could encourage uncoordinated development. Opponents argue the public has been denied a proper say on where homes should be built and fear long-term damage to community spaces and local amenity.
The council will publish details of the legal and soundness consultation as the plan moves to the next stage; residents concerned about specific sites should monitor the council’s planning pages for how to respond to that limited consultation.
