Yorke Drive, Newark

A joint planning application for the first phases of work was recently submitted by Newark and Sherwood District Council (NSDC) and Lovell Partnerships Ltd.  Lovell will be delivering this scheme through Compendium Living, their joint venture with Riverside.

The application covers the demolition and redevelopment of the first phase of new homes on the site.  It also includes the delivery of a new sports pavilion and a substantial upgrade of the existing sports pitch provision.

This marks a key milestone for the project following delays as the partners addressed a number of issues that arose.  The design team overcame noise constraints, changes in national policy and the move to low carbon homes.  All of these are now addressed by the new plans.

If planning permission is granted, the project will deliver 289 new mixed tenure and tenure-blind homes.  A new access road will open up the estate, which will also benefit from environmental improvements and traffic control measures.  A centrally located sports pavilion and play area will be provided right in the heart of the community.

Councillor David Lloyd, Leader of Newark and Sherwood Council, said: “The District Council has been committed to the regeneration of Yorke Drive since day one and I am delighted to see this planning application brought forward. The scheme proposed addresses all of the key drivers for regenerating the area and will transform the estate, raising the profile of Lincoln Road and the whole Bridge Ward.

“I appreciate it may be difficult for residents living through this first challenging part of the regeneration. However I know councillors have been pushing hard to see improvements on the estate both now, during this early phase, and for the future.”

NSDC and Compendium Living consulted residents on the amended designs earlier in the year.  The majority of feedback recognised that the scheme would not only improve Yorke Drive but also the wider area.

Resident feedback also highlighted concern for the loss of green space and trees in order to deliver the necessary transformation. The current proposals aim to address these concerns by committing to replace lost trees on a two for one basis. In addition, the current playing fields are underutilised.  Therefore we will level these up and re-seed to deliver surfaces that will meet the Football Association’s Grade ‘Good’. We hope that the new pavilion and pitches will become a focal point for the community.  The facilities will be open and overlooked, creating a safer and more inviting space for sports and recreational activity.

Diane Ledger, Chair of the Yorke Drive Resident Panel, commented: “As a resident, I’m pleased to see the project finally moving forward. A number of residents have been concerned that the regeneration would not go ahead and the submission of this planning application is the first step in showing us that NSDC are committed to delivering the project despite the challenges faced.”

We hope to start work on-site in Spring 2023, assuming that planning permission is granted. The council and Lovell have already carried out some early enabling works, including the demolition of the first houses.  NSDC secured grant funding from the Department of Levelling Up Homes and Communities to make this possible.