The site is situated on land north of Holmewood Village, south of Chesterfield Road.
The land has a history of supporting the local mining industry, with part of the site formerly serving as an open mining pit. Today, the site is agricultural in character, after the mining pits were filled-in in the late 1980s.
Its potential for appropriate development is well-recognised, with the site allocated for housing in the North East Derbyshire District Council’s Local Plan.
There is also a precedent for residential development, with the site previously receiving planning permission for housing in 2014 and again in 2020.
Our proposals therefore offer an opportunity to deliver against the site’s allocation in the Local Plan while also creating a new place of worship which would serve the local congregation and facilitate its charitable activity in the area. The plans also offer an opportunity to recognise its industrial heritage through establishing a high-quality new development known as Five Pits Place.
The Proposals: Five Pits Place
Known as Five Pits Place, our plans would deliver thoughtfully designed homes and a purpose-built place of worship.
New Homes for Independent Living
Central to the proposals is the delivery of 33 new, high-quality apartments. These new homes have been designed for people aged 55 and over for any local resident. They are not just for the Church congregation. The apartments, which include affordable options, would support any older adults to maintain their independence while having easy access to the local community and relevant support.
The provision of these new homes would help deliver against the district’s recognised housing targets, including the need for purpose-built living space for older people in North East Derbyshire.
The new apartments would be delivered across three, three-storey buildings at the southern portion of the site. The new apartment buildings have been carefully designed to ensure they effortlessly combine with the site’s natural surroundings and complement the new place worship.
Between the apartment blocks would be attractive communal gardens for residents to come together and enjoy. These gardens would help create a sense of place and promote the wellbeing of residents, with access to the nearby Five Pits Trail also just a short walk away.
As part of these efforts, the access to the adjacent trail would also be improved and enhanced.
A Local Place of Worship
There is also a longstanding need for a place of worship to serve the congregation in the local area. Currently, members in the local community worship in buildings in Wingerworth and Chesterfield. However, these locations are no longer fit for purpose and do not meet the needs of the local congregation.
To meet this need for a new, purpose-built, place of worship, Five Pits Place offers an ideal opportunity to create a place to serve those who live and work in the area.
As part of efforts to make best use of the site, the north west of the site has been identified as the best location to deliver the high-quality Gospel Hall.
Simple in its design with a focus on effortlessly integrating with the rural landscape, the single-storey Gospel Hall has been designed to balance a traditional barn-like appearance with subtle contemporary elements, while its size has been kept to a minimum while still providing adequate space to serve the local congregation as a much-needed place of worship.
As a result, the design of the Gospel Hall will ensure that it would have a minimal visual impact across the site.
This Gospel Hall would serve the congregation for years to come, acting as place of worship and location to facilitate its social impact in the North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield area.
A Considered Approach
The proposals have been carefully developed to ensure that Five Pits Place represents an appropriate level of development at this location, while minimising any impact on the area.
Similarly, the proposed car parking provision for the new apartments and Gospel Hall has been developed to be an appropriate size for the site and its proposed use. The car parking will also benefit from permeable surfaces which allow grassland to grow through, minimising its visual impact.
The proposals are inspired by the site’s woodland surroundings, with careful thought given to softening the visual appearance of the proposed buildings by using the existing woodland envelope. Existing mature trees would also be used to further conceal the development.
The landscape of the site would be further enhanced through the planting of additional trees and vegetation. This extensive new tree planting, hedgerows, and landscaping proposal would also target a valuable net gain for biodiversity on the site – beyond the national standard of 10%.
It would also see the delivery of courtyard gardens between the apartment blocks, providing green space, flowers, and foliage for residents to enjoy.
To the west of the site would see the delivery of an attractive new pond situated adjacent to the nearby Lings Pond. Alongside providing an area for surface run-off and flood control management, this space would enhance biodiversity by providing an additional habitat for local wildlife.
Connectivity & Transport
As part of the proposals, the Chesterfield Gospel Hall Trust has developed a comprehensive highways and transport plan to ensure that Five Pits Place can serve residents and the congregation for years to come.
Our proposals have been developed to reflect the proposed uses while being sensitive to the capacity of neighbouring roads. This includes two new access routes off Chesterfield Road which would separately serve the new homes and place of worship.
Alongside the Gospel Hall at the near west of the site, 197 car parking spaces, and 10 disabled spaces are proposed. To serve the new homes at the south of the site, a further 29 car parking spaces, and 12 disabled spaces would be delivered. This would provide sufficient space to accommodate those accessing Five Pits Place via car and prevent overspilling on neighbouring roads.
The site is easily accessible by a range of public transport. The Chesterfield Road bus stop lies just a two-minute walk away from the site and provides access into the villages of Holmewood, North Wingerfield and Heath. Meanwhile, the village of Holmewood can also be accessed by foot or bicycle.
