American Adventure site plans rejected

Plans to use a section of green belt land to protect homes on the former American Adventure theme park site in Shipley from flooding have been turned down.

The 114-acre Shipley Lakeside development is well underway but the firms behind the scheme wanted just over half an acre of extra land - and to take it out of the neighbouring green belt.

At an Amber Valley Borough Council meeting this week, the plans from Waystone Developments Ltd were unanimously rejected, much to the joy of opposing residents in Ripley Town Hall - 390 of whom had objected.

More: Retro pictures of old American Adventure theme park near Derby bound to bring back happy memories

The proposed need for more land was to make way for a 17 to 22-metre wide valley to be created for a diverted watercourse, taking water from Osborne’s Pond and Coppice Lake into Shipley Lake - offsetting the impact of a potential dam collapse at Osborne’s Pond, which is now a classified reservoir.

Meanwhile, the next plot for development would be raised by four to five metres higher than previously agreed.

This would in turn require the site boundary for the overall development to be expanded by 16 metres to the north-west, into the protected green belt, taking up an extra 0.7 acres.

Expanding in this area would require the realignment of the Nutbrook Trail, with a 155-metre section of the popular walking and cycling route having to be moved, including its closure for “around three weeks”.

However, councillors did not agree that the “exceptional circumstances” required to justify development in the protected green belt had been met.

Councillor Dean Watson, a member of Shipley Parish Council, said the developer should find space within the 114-acre scheme for the wider watercourse valley instead of seeking to expand its site.

In a passionate speech to the meeting, he said: “Shipley Park is a much-loved local asset for mental and physical well-being and exercise.

“Green belt is vital to prevent urban sprawl between towns and also the flora and fauna it contains are vital to our well-being, including that of the area and the wider planet.

“During a climate crisis and with ever-rising temperatures, the removal of trees and the wildlife they support is madness.”

He said the new changes broke several of the conditions of the original permission for the site’s development: for it to not affect the green belt, not exceed the general height of existing structures, to create off-site infrastructure and to not significantly increase the density of the site or occupy a larger area of the site.

Cllr Watson continued: “The new application rides over all these, and for what? Are we to gain much-needed social housing with green spaces built in?

“No, we gain an access road to executive homes of which we need no more.

“The answer is simple for the developer. Fit your access road in the 114 acres that you already have permission for, sacrifice profit for the good of the area and its people and the planet, and build a few less houses.

“Make it fit, do not grasp more land, cut down more trees, make more wildlife move on… soon there will be few places for it to move on to, and then what?

“Say no to more development of the green belt, however small it may be, we have to stop before it is too late.”

Borough councillor Amanda Paget told the meeting that the developer was granted permission on the grounds of no green belt land being used - and this needs to remain the case.

She also said without mitigation, a dam burst at Osborne’s Pond would “flood most of Marlpool”.

Cllr Paget said the proposed changes would impact the cycle path and Nutbrook Trail along with a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve.

She said changes already had to be made to previous plots due to unknown mine shaft entries being discovered and said this too could happen with the next plot, which could in turn involve further land being required.

Cllr Lian Pizzey said the planning committee should bear in mind that more than 300 people objected to the plans.

He said: “I am flabbergasted that a very large development and plot needs to take an additional part of the green belt because they can’t make it fit.

“Green belt shouldn’t be developed unless there are really strong reasons for doing so and no-one I have spoken to feels there are any good reasons why it should be approved.”

Alison Barnfield, agent for the applicants, said the changes did not involve a new access road or changed access road but were pitched as part of a collaboration with Derbyshire County Council to alleviate the impact of a potential dam breach at Osborne’s Pond.

WIthout the scheme being approved on the American Adventure site, extensive works would be required at Osborne’s Pond at great public expense, the agent claimed.

She said the wider channel being created on site would result in the next phase being reduced in size - though it would sit five metres higher.

Ms Barnfield said the proposed changes to the watercourse channel were to mitigate the potential “loss of life” from a dam collapse which was an “absolute necessity” with the impact of climate change growing.

Cllr Emma Monkman, the council’s deputy leader, said the development did not meet the “exceptional circumstances” required for building in the green belt and was not sustainable.

Cllr Alison McDermott said the impact of the next phase was “shocking” as viewed from the Nutbrook Trail and said the ideas of putting homes on the planned high platform was “ridiculous”.

Cllr Fay Atkinson said: “I cannot support any encroachment into the (Shipley) park, it is a vital community space and we should be protecting it.”

Plans have already been approved for 307 homes, a retirement complex, shops, businesses, a pub, hotel and healthcare facility at the Shipley Lakeside site, with 48 homes already occupied and 302 homes started or due to be started soon.