Ashbourne Airfield – A New Village on the edge of Ashbourne

Can the planners get this right?

A successful development of part of the old WW2 airfield on the outskirts of Ashbourne was always central to the provision of housing in the Derbyshire Dales 2017 Local Plan. In this an area of almost 40 hectares was earmarked for mixed use development with homes as well as community facilities and employment opportunities planned.

In some ways the site is perfect - a level brownfield site adjacent to a main road. The nearby town has a variety of facilities - health, leisure and retail.

However the nearby town is not really close enough to walk to (and there is a hill) and the schools and health facilities are feeling the pressure caused by years of reduced funding. To compound the problem, the town suffers badly from traffic congestion and the associated hazard of air pollution. Some of its roads have been designated an Air Quality Management Area in need of remedial mitigation measures.

Since the original plans were submitted (see original design to the left) much has changed and the plan is still evolving.

Can the planners square the circle and deliver homes and facilities that will create a vibrant community without overwhelming the adjacent town?

Time will tell, but there are good reasons to keep a close eye on what is being planned.

If you have any interest in the future of Ashbourne, do keep a close eye on what is being proposed in this major development.

To find out more go to this site; https://planning.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/online-applications/

Type Ashbourne Airfield into the search box to see the current applications.

Choose one. Click on 'Documents' in the line headed Details. Then 'Show associated documents' on the next page. (They don't make it easy, do they!)

This gives you a long list of all the documents associated with a development.

Lots to read and most of it in 'planning speak' - but research on this can prevent nasty surprises arriving where and when you least expect them!