Large homes to be built opposite Derby secondary school

The homes will be built on the junction of Morley Road and Brookfield Avenue – near Lees Brook Academy

Four new large homes are to be built opposite a Derby secondary school after revamped plans were approved. Derby City Council’s planning committee have given the go-ahead for four five-bedroom houses to be built on a corner plot at the junction between Morley Road and Brookfield Avenue, situated in the Chaddesden ward.

The site is adjacent to Lees Brook Academy on Morley Road which has hundreds of pupils. There is also a pre-war bungalow on the site, which is to be demolished to clear the site for the new homes.

A previous application to build six new homes on the land was refused by Derby City Council in 2021. It was refused on grounds relating to the creation of a cramped form of development, homes being out of character with existing surroundings, inadequately sized and inappropriate car parking provision.

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Just months later, the applicant’s appeal against the council’s refusal was also lost. But fresh and amended plans were resubmitted last year – for just four new homes – have now been proven to be acceptable.

The plans will see four three-storey, five bedroom and detached homes fronting onto Brookfield Avenue with access to the site from the road and an additional access being created at Morley Road. Three trees on the street scene fronting Morley Road will be removed due to them being in poor condition but others will be retained.

At a planning committee meeting on Thursday (February 15) councillors said the street scene was attractive and the new homes were now acceptable for the area after previous concerns were raised.

Councillor Sara Bolton said: “I think this is the most suitable site to put more domestic properties. I have leafleted there numerous times in my previous role and Brookfield Avenue is a really lovely street. I was pleased to hear those trees are being retained.

“The site is a really big site for one dwelling. I think it would be far more beneficial to have the four homes. We do need more housing in the city.”

Councillor Jerry Pearce added: “I have delivered (leaflets) there for a long time and I loved doing that route because the trees are fantastic. Access was one of my concerns when this (application) first came through but it looks like every box has been ticked.”

Councillor Lucy Care agreed to objections that the houses look different to the current street scene but said change was not always a bad thing. She said: We are allowed to change of styles of housing, if we never change we will still be building houses that look like they have been built in the 1800s.”