𝐒𝐊𝐇𝐆𝐁 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄

𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 - 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠
This week, our Facebook page passed 1,000 followers - another sign of the steadily growing support for the campaign.

The number itself is not what matters most. What matters is that more and more people are following the campaign, sharing information and taking an active interest in the future of Kilburn, Horsley and the surrounding villages.

Since SKHGB was formed, local residents have come together to ask questions, examine the evidence, challenge unsupported claims and ensure that their concerns cannot simply be overlooked.

Our growing following gives us a stronger platform for the important work still ahead. The planning application has not yet been determined, and significant questions remain unresolved, particularly around highways, active travel, infrastructure, deliverability, Green Belt harm and the long-term impact on our communities.

We will continue to keep residents informed, scrutinise every new document and consultation response, challenge weak or uncertain mitigation, press for a decision based on evidence and sound planning principles, and make sure the voices of our villages continue to be heard.

Thank you to everyone who follows the page, shares our posts, comments, displays posters, submits objections or supports the campaign in any other way.

𝟐. 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐦
This week, SKHGB was pleased to support the Community Planning Alliance’s “New Home Card to Andy Burnham” campaign.

The campaign welcomes the new Prime Minister to Downing Street while asking his government to address the housing crisis - providing the homes and infrastructure people need without unnecessarily sacrificing green spaces.

It calls on the Government to:
• Plan for genuine local housing need rather than imposing national targets
• Put brownfield land, empty buildings and existing unbuilt planning permissions first
• Protect green spaces and reverse the grey belt rules

Rosie Pearson, Chair of the Community Planning Alliance, told SKHGB: “The simple message to Andy Burnham is that the Government needs to shift from blaming communities and nature under his leadership, to valuing both. We should not be building on green spaces when there are so many empty buildings and brownfield sites, and we should not be allowing developers to accumulate planning permissions that they do not build out.”

By yesterday, people from more than 1,100 towns and villages across the UK had signed the card.

Please join us by adding your name and a short SKHGB-related welcome message to the prime minister: https://welcomehomeandy.com/

𝟑. 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Amber Valley Borough Council has launched the first stage of preparing a new Local Plan covering the period from 2026 to 2044.

The consultation asks residents, businesses and community groups what the plan should contain and how they should be involved in its preparation. The eventual plan will help determine where new homes, jobs, infrastructure and community facilities are provided.

This may seem unusual, as Amber Valley Borough Council is due to be abolished in April 2028 under local government reorganisation. However, the evidence and views gathered now will remain important and will help shape the first Local Plan produced by the new southern unitary authority covering Kilburn and Horsley (to be called “Derbyshire South Council”).

SKHGB will be submitting a response, and we encourage residents to take part. The deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 12 August 2026.

You can read more and complete the consultation here: https://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/.../local-plan-scoping...

𝟒. 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 (𝐍𝐏𝐏𝐅)
This week we reviewed the recent House of Commons debate on the National Planning Policy Framework and what it could mean for the proposed development between Kilburn and Horsley. The debate does not change planning policy, but it highlights both risks and opportunities.

The Government’s continued support for development on some Green Belt land remains a risk, particularly where sites are described as “grey belt”. Developers may also argue that future transport improvements would make otherwise car-dependent sites sustainable.

However, Amber Valley currently has an adopted Local Plan, a 5.80-year housing land supply and a strong housing delivery test result. National policy requires demonstrable unmet housing need before grey-belt development can qualify as appropriate Green Belt development.

Although Wheeldon now places less emphasis on “grey belt”, the application must still satisfy every relevant test, including sustainability, safe access, infrastructure and the effect on the remaining Green Belt.

The new NPPF was not published before parliament’s summer recess. No firm date has been given, but autumn 2026 is now the earliest likely timetable. The current NPPF remains in force until it is replaced.

SKHGB will continue to ensure that the application is assessed against the policies in force, the consultee evidence and the specific constraints of this site.

Thanks to Rachel Wells for making us aware of this.

Link to full debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/.../NationalPlanningPolicyF...

𝟓. 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has acknowledged that the Government’s target of building 1.5 million homes before the next general election is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve, although the target remains in place.

This could increase political pressure to approve major housing developments. However, national targets do not remove the requirement to assess each application against planning policy, Green Belt harm, sustainability and the availability of essential infrastructure.

SKHGB recognises the need for new and affordable homes. Our objection to AVA/2025/0587 concerns this particular unallocated Green Belt site and the serious issues surrounding highways, active travel, public transport, infrastructure, ecology and the permanent reduction of the open gap between Kilburn and Horsley.

The answer to missed national targets is not to approve unsuitable development. It is to deliver the right homes in sustainable locations, supported by the infrastructure communities need.

𝟔. 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 page.

Please do let us know if there’s anything in particular you’d like us to cover in future updates.