Newark residents suffer years in 'limbo' waiting for new 300-home development

Dozens of Nottinghamshire residents have been left living in “limbo” for almost a decade and the end is still not in sight as construction is delayed further. The initial plans for the regeneration of Yorke Drive, in Newark, were first announced 12 years ago, which would see a number of council homes demolished in the area and replaced with new builds.

However, years later residents still remain confused about what is happening on their estate. This comes days after Newark and Sherwood District Council announced that planning permission had still not been secured, and could take up to another six months to be granted.

In a letter received by residents earlier this week, the council stated that changes had to be made to the design due to “new requirements.” Once permission is granted for the development, which will also see a new community pavilion and sports facilities built, it is expected to be a further three months until construction could start.

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It is understood that more than 300 homes will be built as part of the project, including homes to replace the council housing that will be demolished and homes that can be sold. In the meantime, people are stuck feeling as if they can’t make changes to their homes or they risk wasting money on a property that will be destroyed.

Vice-chair of the resident panel, Ginnette Hardy, received a letter seven years ago stating that her home would be demolished. Since then she has been unable to make changes to her home due to the uncertainty of when she will move and not wanting to invest in a property that will just get knocked down.

Green space next to a house

She said: “I’m actually in stage tree, but then it keeps changing, I went into stage two at one point. They have knocked the four houses down at the bottom of the road near me and they were supposed to be knocking the pavilion down and moving it from where it was to where those houses were, that was the plan.”

Ginnette explained that new houses would be built, then people would move into those from stage two, and then those houses would be knocked down and new ones built again for stage three people to move into. However, this “keeps changing”.

The mum stated: “I have been waiting for four years for major work to be done in my house. They needed to replaster the whole living room ceiling and put a whole new ceiling in the dining room and replaster it.

“They started that work last Monday in the living room, but that has been four years in the making.” She added that the fencing around her property was also “falling down”, but she doesn’t want “to be spending hundreds of pounds on fencing to be told it’s going to be knocked down in six months or a year.”

Many residents share concerns similar to this, which are also acknowledged by the council in its recent letter. In which they state: “I appreciate the frustration that this delay will cause, particularly to those of you whose home is earmarked for demolition.

“Some residents have told us that they feel they cannot decorate their homes or maintain their gardens whilst waiting.” The council goes on to state that they have volunteers available to help residents with their gardens whilst they wait for the redevelopment to be underway.

Retired Lynne Laggan, 79, has lived on the estate for several years and fears the project “won’t be done in my lifetime.” She continued: “It doesn’t affect me as I live in one of the bungalows but it affects the houses.

“It would be nice to see it done.” Dozens of properties on Yorke Drive are now boarded up and many others have also been left empty, creating an “eyesore” for the area. With the average property costing around £450 a month in rent and many residents moving out two years ago, it is understood that this must have had a financial impact on the council.

Long-standing resident Joanne Wyld said: “I’m not part of the regeneration but the effect it is having on the estate is awful. Everyone is just dumping rubbish and leaving their gardens in a state.

“It’s having a knock-on effect as people won’t spend money on a house that is going to be knocked down.” The 59-year-old added: “It’s been going on and off for years, and I can’t see it ever being finished.

“I can see stage one going ahead but I don’t think the rest will, which is not fair to everyone else living in limbo.” Councillor Debbie Darby represents the Bridge ward for Newark and Sherwood District Council, which includes the Yorke Drive estate, where she is also a resident.

Debbie Darby in front of a boarded up house in Yorke Drive

She stated: “From my point of view as a councillor, I’m so disheartened for the residents and I really feel for them. It’s just a shame that they have been waiting for so long and the residents are still in the dark.

“Do they decorate or not, do they get new carpet, do they do the garden, they are all in limbo.” Councillor Darby described the delays in getting planning permission as “unfortunate.”

Adding: “When it was first announced it all sounded lovely and promising, but I think interest is declining due to residents being messed about so much.”