The proposal to build eight four-bedroom detached houses, six four-bedroom, four three bedroom and two two-bedroom semi-detached houses on land off Lower Stanton Road was refused at a planning meeting of Erewash Borough Council on May 7.

A petition against the homes, signed by 118 local people, was presented at the meeting.

Resident Lindsay Haynes said: "There are far too many houses. At best there will be an increase in anti-social behaviour.

"At worst there will be death and injury caused by children playing too close to the road."

Resident Lindy Greenhalgh called for trees on the site to be preserved.
Councillor John Frudd said: "I use that road daily and it is very dangerous."

Councillors were extremely critical of the design of the houses proposed.

Cllr Gail Newman said: " I am sure that architects must get the book out and say 'That one.'

"We have got to leave a legacy for the next one hundred years.
"We should be encouraging developers to put in quality applications instead of something that looks like it comes out of the Argos catalogue."

Cllr Howard Griffiths said: "The argument is around density. It's exactly the sort of thing that was done in the 70s and 80s. It looks like a toy. I don't see any quality in the design.

"It's an awkward shape and it is an awkward planning application."
The proposal was refused on the grounds of design, layout, density and highway safety.

Cllr Griffiths asked the meeting: "Why are we always behind the game instead of ahead of the game?

"There should be a development brief so more of the people in the area get more of a say about this sort of thing."

Cllr Robert Parkinson, chair of the meeting, agreed that the council should discuss ways of anticipating similar applications.