𝗦𝗞𝗛𝗚𝗕 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘

Our weekly updates can be quite long because we want to give residents the full picture, not just the headlines.

We hope people will read them in full, but we also know that not everyone has the time. So, from this week, we’re giving you two ways to read the update:

· 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 - a concise version covering the key developments

· 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 - the full update, with all the detail, background and explanation

Nothing is being left out - the full version will always be there for anyone who wants it. We’re simply making it easier to keep up with what’s happening, however much time you have.

𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑹𝑻 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫

𝟭. 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻

AVBC has pushed the anticipated decision date for AVA/2025/0587 back by another three months, from August to 30 November 2026. SKHGB has already asked for a full explanation of all previous delays and extensions, but we have not yet received a satisfactory response. We will continue to pursue this on behalf of residents.

𝟮. 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 - 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The Government issued a major new National Planning Policy Framework this week, and its new decision-making policies now apply to this application. Our initial review suggests Amber Valley's 5.80-year housing land supply, recently adopted Local Plan and strong housing delivery figures could make it harder to argue there is unmet housing need or justify development through the grey-belt route, while transport and sustainability concerns remain highly relevant. There are still risks because the Government remains strongly pro-housebuilding, so we are reviewing the detail carefully and will report back.

𝟯. 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 - 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

SKHGB has asked Kilburn Parish Council for the actual speed data recorded by the Woodhouse Road speed indicator device. This could provide useful real-world evidence alongside the concerns already raised by DCC Highways about traffic, pedestrian safety and the developer's transport evidence. We are awaiting the information and will update residents when we receive it.

𝟰. 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘁 - 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲

We have again contacted MP Linsey Farnsworth about our concerns over the proposed split of Amber Valley. Unfortunately, we still have not received a response despite the potential importance of the proposals for Kilburn, Horsley and surrounding communities. We will continue to press for an answer.

𝟱. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲

Every share helps more local people stay informed about the application and what it could mean for Kilburn and Horsley. If you find our factual updates useful, please share this post and invite friends, neighbours and family to follow the page. And if there’s anything you’d like us to cover in future updates, please let us know.

𝑳𝑶𝑵𝑮 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫

𝟭. 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻

We are very disappointed to learn that AVBC has this week pushed back the published “anticipated decision date” for AVA/2025/0587 by a further three months - from August to 30 November 2026.

Some weeks ago, SKHGB submitted a detailed request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 seeking evidence of the reasons for all previous extensions of time, together with a clear and complete record of every extension agreed. To date, we have not received a satisfactory response from AVBC.

Given the continuing delays, we believe residents are entitled to clear information about why the application timetable keeps changing and what has been agreed between the Council and the developer.

We will continue to pursue this and update residents when we receive a proper response.

𝟮. 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 - 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

Probably the most critical update for SKHGB in recent months is the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), issued by the government this week.

This is a major rewrite of national planning policy. The new decision-making policies took effect immediately on 17 August, so they are directly relevant to the determination of this planning application.

It is a substantial document and SKHGB is reviewing it carefully against the Wheeldon application. We will provide residents with a fuller assessment when that work is complete. We do expect Wheeldon to update its application to reflect the new policy.

Our immediate observations are:

𝑶𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝑲𝑯𝑮𝑩

· Amber Valley's current housing position could be extremely important. AVBC currently demonstrates a 5.80-year housing land supply, including the required 20% buffer, and its new Local Plan was adopted on 2 March this year. Amber Valley's newly published 2025 Housing Delivery Test result is also above 150%, comfortably above the critical 75% threshold

· Perhaps most importantly, the new NPPF says that where a council has at least a five-year housing land supply and is delivering more than 75% of its housing target, a higher national housing figure cannot by itself be used to claim there is unmet housing need for five years after the Local Plan is adopted. This could make it much harder to argue that Amber Valley has an unmet housing need simply because the national figure is higher

· This is also important for grey belt. For housing development to use the new grey-belt route, the NPPF requires an evidenced unmet need. It expressly defines that, for housing, as either the absence of a five-year housing land supply or a Housing Delivery Test result below 75%. On AVBC's current figures, neither applies

· The Government has introduced a strong “default yes” for new homes near well-connected railway, tram and underground stations. In general, this means sites within about 800 metres, or a 10-minute walk, of a station with a good level of service. This is important because it shows the Government is giving the strongest support to development in genuinely sustainable, well-connected locations rather than treating every site in the same way

· Transport and infrastructure remain central. The new NPPF says developments generating significant movement should be in sustainable locations, should limit the need to travel by private car and should offer a genuine choice of transport modes. It also specifically addresses highway safety, network capacity, walking, cycling and public transport. These issues closely mirror concerns already raised by DCC Highways about this application

There are some risks. The Government’s overall direction remains strongly pro-housebuilding and pro-growth, with the new NPPF intended to make development easier and more certain where proposals meet the new national rules. Grey belt has also not gone away, and the revised framework may still give developers routes to argue that some Green Belt housing should not be treated as inappropriate development. We therefore need to examine very carefully how those provisions apply to this proposed site.

Our priority now is to work through the detail carefully and establish exactly what the new policies mean for Kilburn and Horsley. We will report back when that assessment is complete.

𝟯. 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 - 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

DCC Highways has already raised significant concerns about the transport and infrastructure implications of the proposed 200-home development, including car dependency, pedestrian connectivity and the adequacy of the developer’s transport evidence.

Against that background, SKHGB has asked Kilburn Parish Council for the data recorded by the speed indicator device (SID) on Woodhouse Road. The Council has confirmed that the data is downloaded regularly by Derbyshire’s specialist police speed-enforcement/road-safety team and that the latest information is being obtained.

We have also asked for the underlying recorded data, rather than simply an analysis, so that we can properly assess what it shows about existing traffic speeds and conditions on Woodhouse Road.

The speed data will not determine the application on its own, but it could provide useful real-world evidence to help inform the wider assessment of highway safety, traffic conditions and the impact of additional development traffic.

We are currently awaiting this information and will update residents when we receive it.

𝟰. 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘁 - 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲

We have again followed up with Linsey Farnsworth MP for a response to our concerns about the proposed split of Amber Valley.

Unfortunately, we have still not received a response. Given the potential significance of the proposals for Kilburn, Horsley and surrounding communities, we hope to hear from her soon.

We will continue to press for a response and update residents when we receive one.

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 page.

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