𝗦𝗞𝗛𝗚𝗕 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘

𝟭. 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 – 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The Government announced yesterday that Derbyshire’s existing councils will be replaced by two new unitary authorities. Under the proposed arrangements, both Kilburn and Horsley will become part of the new southern Derbyshire authority from April 2028.

We are now assessing in detail what these changes could mean for the proposed development between Kilburn and Horsley.

One issue is whether parts of what is currently Amber Valley could come under pressure to accommodate additional housebuilding arising from the wider southern authority, which will also include Derby City and Erewash. Derby currently has a substantially poorer five-year housing land supply than Amber Valley, while Erewash has a longstanding record of housing under-delivery.

It is also not yet known what approach the incoming Prime Minister will take towards local government reorganisation, housing targets or the distribution of housing across newly created council areas.

The timing and implementation of these changes, together with the continuing uncertainty over the decision timetable for the planning application, will therefore be important.

More information will follow once we have completed our assessment.

Further details:
https://www.gov.uk/.../14-more-areas-to-benefit-from...
https://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/.../update-on-local.../

𝟮. 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆
Amber Valley’s latest housing land supply figure is 5.80 years, down from the previously reported position of more than seven years.

This is a reduction, but it is not unexpected. We knew the figure was likely to fall as the assessment moved into a new five-year period and the new 20% buffer was applied. This change has therefore been anticipated and factored into our campaign work.

Importantly, Amber Valley remains above the critical five-year threshold. If supply falls below five years, housing applications can be considered more favourably under what is commonly known as the “tilted balance”.

The Council currently identifies 3,024 deliverable homes against a five-year requirement, including the buffer, of 2,604 homes - a margin of approximately 420 homes.

Amber Valley’s position also remains stronger than the latest published figures for Derby, Bolsover, South Derbyshire and North East Derbyshire, although the different assessments are not directly comparable.

The reduction does not provide an automatic justification for building on this Green Belt site. The fundamental concerns about sustainability, highways, active travel, infrastructure and harm to the Green Belt remain unresolved.

The fall was expected, Amber Valley remains above five years, and the case against this application remains strong.

𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀
Under the parish boundary changes already published, the five field parcels currently within Horsley parish will transfer to Kilburn. This will place the entire proposed development site within Kilburn parish.

It is also likely to increase the affordable housing requirement for the development, as the calculation currently applies different percentages to the Kilburn and Horsley parts of the site.

𝟰. 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘁
You may remember the fields being cut earlier this summer. In the days that followed, the wildlife was incredible, including huge numbers of red kites circling overhead and feeding in the fields.

The grass will be cut again later in the summer, and we are looking into the possibility of organising a community walk through the fields once this has happened.

It could be an opportunity to enjoy the landscape, experience the wildlife and spend time in the Green Belt we are working so hard to protect.

This is only an idea at this stage, and we are considering whether it would be practical and how it might best be organised. More information will follow as the idea develops.

𝟱. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲
Every share helps more local people stay informed and engaged.
SKHGB is already reaching a significant number of households across Kilburn and Horsley, but there are still many residents who may not yet be aware of the scale or implications of this application.

If you value clear, factual updates on what is happening and what it could mean for our area, please help widen the reach by sharing this post and inviting friends, neighbours and family to follow the facebook page.