Go-ahead for 70 homes despite flooding concerns

Dozens of new homes have been approved for a village in Derbyshire despite a government inspector acknowledging frequent flooding and an inadequate sewer network in the area.

Plans for 70 homes off Throstle Nest Way, in Brailsford, were rejected in February 2025 by Derbyshire Dales District Council on the grounds of flooding, drainage and highways safety.

However, they have now been approved by a government inspector after the developers appealed.

The Gladman Developments scheme had opposition from Labour MP John Whitby, citing a "serious risk to local people, infrastructure and property from flooding if this development goes ahead".

He objected to the plans in December 2024 on the same day Labour increased national housing targets for the Dales from 216 to 518 homes.

In the decision notice, the government inspector said "inappropriate development" in areas at risk of flooding "should be avoided", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The notice also acknowledged that properties near to the proposed area "experience flooding events from time to time" and it was "apparent" drainage in the area was "not currently performing as should be normally expected".

It also stated surface water run-off "discharges into the A52 infrastructure" and actively "contributes to the flooding events" residents have suffered.

The inspector accepted "strength of feeling held by local residents", but said planning guidance stated although developments "should not increase flood risk elsewhere", it was not a requirement that they "should seek to resolve existing problems".

"It is likely that flooding events will continue to occur in Brailsford even if the appeal proposal were not to proceed, unless unrelated works to the existing infrastructure are undertaken.

"Furthermore, I acknowledge that it is also likely that flooding events would continue to occur following the construction of development, however by retaining water within the site and releasing it at a controlled rate, it would not exacerbate such events in comparison to the current situation," the report stated.

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