Resident survey comments

From Have Your Say survey

The village cannot sustain an additional 600 people ( minimum) I believe Farnsfield has had its fare share of new developments as said by the ombudsman when refusing other development.

Main Street / Southwell Road is very busy and not enough parking in the village for the residents now let alone 140 more properties with possible 2 cars per property

The Doctors at Farnsfield are very busy you often have to accept an appointment at Rainworth to see a Doctor
As shown today with the rain Southwell Road and Main Street was flooded (drains unable to cope with the surface water)

I believe the local school is at capacity.
How would this effect infrastructure mains sewers,

electricity supplies Bin collections Gas supplies.
In my opinion if Farnsfield increases it’s housing it will be losing its village feeling

We have had 5 housing developments in Farnsfield in the last 27 years. The greenfield gap between Farnsfield and Edingley will be further closed by this development. Many village facilities are at capacity or over. The road where I live that is used for a cut through, they come off cocket lane and I am disabled use a scooter, it’s dangerous crossing, the amount of cars that use this lane, the numerous times I’ve started to cross outside my house and had a near miss, the village is overpopulated now because of the numerous new builds already, the village can’t cope with it. We can’t get in our own doctors now let alone adding another 140 houses to which could equate to potentially 300 extra bodies plus 2 cars to each house cutting through. It’s like a racetrack now! I strongly believe that the development, as proposed, would have a significant and detrimental impact on both the local environment and the wider village of Farnsfield. It would also place additional strain on infrastructure and services that are already under considerable pressure.

This proposal represents a further large-scale development in a village that has already seen substantial expansion in recent years. The cumulative impact of these developments must be considered, as each additional scheme compounds existing challenges rather than addressing them.

My concerns are as follows:

• The loss of valuable greenfield land, including farmland, hedgerows, and established wildlife habitats, resulting in lasting environmental harm.
• Local services are already overstretched and unable to meet current demand. Access to GP appointments is extremely limited, the primary school is at, or near, capacity, and NHS dental provision is effectively unavailable.
• The main street through Farnsfield is narrow, heavily parked, and lacks safe crossing points. Increased traffic associated with this development would significantly heighten the risk to pedestrians and other road users. This is further increased as we would see a huge volume of HGV and construction vehicles for the building phase. Are the developers and local councils willing to keep pushing the already over stretched capacity of the local roads to the point where there is a serious or fatal accident.
• Farnsfield has a known history of flooding. The removal of permeable farmland and increased pressure on drainage, sewage, and surface water systems could further exacerbate this risk.
• There is a severe shortage of off-road parking within the village, leading to widespread on-street parking that already creates safety issues. Given the distance of the proposed development from village amenities, it is highly likely that a significant proportion of residents will rely on cars, worsening these existing problems.
• Traffic congestion and safety risks are already acute around the primary school during drop-off and collection times. Additional vehicle movements will increase the danger to children, parents, and residents.
• The proposal is not aligned with the Farnsfield Neighbourhood Plan and it risks setting a precedent for further unsustainable expansion of the village and continued loss of greenfield land.
• The scale and nature of the development are inconsistent with the character of a small village setting.

For these reasons, I strongly object to this application. There must be a point at which continued expansion, at the expense of green space, biodiversity, and the wellbeing of existing residents, is recognised as unsustainable and halted.

This proposal represents not just another development, but a tipping point at which the safety, character, and sustainability of Farnsfield are placed at serious risk You are trying to turn our village into a town without thinking about the facilities and services available. Don’t want the village getting any bigger turning it into a town
Not enough infrastructure The infrastructure of the village is already at capacity.
We don’t need any more housing using the incredible green and farmland we have around here. Farnsfield needs no further housing and no recent developments have provided accommodation for the elderly i.e. bungalows, warden assistance flats or medical and school extension. They attract middle-class, higher-salaried families who invariably have 2 cars thus adding to the current problems of dangerous traffic, parking, schooling and medical appointments. X I suggest several important considerations must be addressed to ensure the scheme genuinely supports the wellbeing of the village and integrates responsibly with the existing community.

Green spaces:
It is essential that the development includes meaningful, accessible green spaces rather than token pockets of grass. These areas should be designed as usable community assets—places where residents can walk, relax, and interact—rather than leftover land shaped by drainage requirements. Well‑planned green infrastructure is vital for both environmental quality and long‑term community cohesion.

Safe places and access for children:
The layout must prioritise children’s safety. This includes safe play areas away from traffic, clear pedestrian routes, and secure access to key parts of the village. Children should be able to move between home, school, and recreational spaces without being exposed to unnecessary risk from vehicle movements or poorly designed crossings.

Proper road crossings and village connectivity:
The development will increase footfall across Southwell Road and towards other parts of Farnsfield. Safe, formal road crossings are essential—not only at the site access point but also at locations that link the new homes to the school, shops, and existing residential areas. These crossings should be designed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and families with pushchairs.

Integration with existing rights of way and paths:
The village’s rights of way and established walking routes are a key part of its character. The development should enhance, not disrupt, these connections. Existing paths must be retained, improved, and linked seamlessly into the new layout to ensure residents can continue to enjoy safe and direct routes through and around the village.

Drainage and balancing pools:
While drainage infrastructure is necessary, it should not dominate the design or displace the green spaces and community features that make developments liveable. Balancing ponds and drainage basins should be sensitively located and designed so they complement the landscape rather than becoming fenced‑off voids that limit the usability of the site.

In summary, the development must be shaped around people, not just engineering constraints. Prioritising green space, safe movement, and integration with the existing village will ensure the scheme enhances Farnsfield rather than placing additional strain on its infrastructure. I did complete the form earlier but don’t appear to have received By notification from it ?

I written an email direct to Wain Estates This is a project born only from greed certainly not need , yes Farnsfield is a very desirable area but the infrastructure is not here for yet another housing estate , the doctors surgery is not of adequate size with patients already having to go to nearby villages surgeries , the school does not have the capacity to educate another 50+ 4-11 year olds , the traffic has already increased greatly to a point where safety is a real issue , if this were to get approval against such an overwhelmingly negative response, then there should be an investigation into corruption and back handers. The village GP surgery already doesn't cope, traffic is really bad already - more cars will make it evern more difficult to get through the village. Farnsfield has already borne its fair share of new housing in the last twenty five years. I honestly do not know where to start here . The flooding today is an example of the state of this village drainage system already , without more run off water onto our roads from yet another development . The infrastructure is not there for another housing development in farnsfield.
I would be extremely interested to see the reports that you have done that show the current infrastructure of the surrounding villages are able to support the proposed development.

The UK average for people per home is 2.36, with 140 houses built, this would be approximately 330.4 additional people within the village. If you remove 1 person households from the average, the number jumps to around 3 people per household, taking the total additional people to approximately 420. If there was 1 child per household in your "family" homes (fully aware that most of these houses will be 3+ beds with more than one child, these are minimum numbers) that would be 140 additional kids in the village. The current schools in the area would not be able to accommodate the additional children, putting a strain on the currently available resources. (Figures from ONS data with the 3 people per household being an estimate based on the wording of your "family homes".)

Moving on to cars, the average household has 1.2 cars. This means an additional 168 cars coming into a single road village (figure from Confused.com regarding the cars per household). If you have spent more than 30 seconds in Farnsfield, you would know that the village comes to a complete stop when the binman has to travel down Mainstreet due to a lack of space. The opening of the Rustic Crust and Petit Vert have meant people have started leaving their cars on blind corners with single yellow lines in order to visit these restaurants, the centre of Farnsfield is already a nightmare to drive through, you would be heavily contributing to the problem, you would bring the village to a standstill.

There is a small Cooperative shop, bakery, butchers, charity shop and 2 pubs. This village infrastructure cannot sustain and additional 400-500 people.

The GP and Pharmacy are also very over stretched. The only way to get an appointment within a month is to call at 08:00 in the morning and hope you can get in. If you add all these additional people, the GP will be overrun and won't survive.

There have been 3 large developments in the last 15 years within Farnsfield and it has doubled in size with little to no improvements made to the existing infrastructure and services.

Farnsfield is already starting to lose its village feel due to the extra housing being built and holding on to the village feel is a very important part of the local identity, taking this away for profit is unfair to the people that have lived around here all their lives with little to no say in what happens with the village and areas they have given their money to for decades.

For the people that purchased the houses in the last developments, you would flood the market with identical houses, driving down their prices, making them unsellable for their true value any time within 3-5 years of building yours. How would you offset this negative impact on the local housing market?

If this development goes ahead, it won't be long until another development company comes along and does the fields next to these, then the ones next to those. Before long, Farnsfield and Edingley will be connected through quickly built, locally unwanted, character lacking buildings. If any housing built, we need home locked down to an attainable price - max 125k. Our kids are having to move away to buy starter homes as entering Farnsfield adds another 100k to value. Eventually you reach a tipping point where the village has merged with Edingley and become a small town. Lived here all my life (54 yrs) and the village is now quite big enough. Villages are meant to be small and inclusive. whats the need for more housing? Surely they can build more houses in the cities / towns. Above says it all . Infrastructure needed before houses are built !!! I spent 30years of my adult life in the village before moving away some years ago, at the time we had already had 3/4 developments which villagers felt were more than enough to cope with regarding traffic, GP and school capacity not to mention the amount of land being taken away. The village is a lovely quaint village and doesn't need turning into a town! Please don't ruin a beautiful area with more housing that is not needed. As above Traffic in Farnsfield is already at capacity, bringing more people in will grind the village to a halt. I do not agree with this planning proposal. It will not be a good thing for the village for so many reasons. It will create so many problems and ruin the rural Aesthetics of the village. Village already struggling with infrastructure plus pharmacy struggling with the population of the village now A significant increase in the size of the village could fundamentally alter its rural character. I am particularly concerned about the additional traffic on existing village roads, congestion and road safety, especially at peak times, as well as inadequate parking and pedestrian facilities. The development could place significant pressure on local schools, GP services, drainage, sewage, water supply and other already limited infrastructure, and I am concerned about the potential for increased surface-water run-off and flooding. There would also be a loss of open countryside and agricultural land, together with potential impacts on established hedgerows, trees and local wildlife. I believe the application needs to demonstrate clearly that the village has the infrastructure and capacity to accommodate a development of this scale without unacceptable impacts. The land designated already has poor drainage and during winter months becomes more of a bog land. The far boundary on the site will fall within the flood zone. The scale of the development would put huge strain on the existing village facilities and amenities. Traffic and parking is already a huge issue. I am not worried in principle about increasing the village housing stock. I mention GP capacity solely to add voice to the need for this to rise with the population.
Greenbelt protection does concern me. And whilst local authorities need to meet wider obligations as housing requirements increase, I do think urban infill and brownfield sites need more take-up. The village is already far over-subscribed for our facilities including schools and doctors.

The traffic in the village is also already horrendous and our roads and infrastructure cannot cope with more houses, and certainly not 140!

The village does not have the infrastructure or amenities to support this number of houses and people. The village is not large enough to support this capacity of housing and people I feel that the proposed development would severely impact on the residents of Farnsfield. I therefore feel it should not go ahead.

The village will be completely overloaded. There are already issues with getting a GP appt and parking in the village. I also think that our green land needs protecting and the focus should be on rejuvenating abandoned and derelict housing and buildings as a priority. Building on the green belt seems inevitable, should try and ensure the developers contribute to the Village. Not just a playground but other community buildings/spaces, parking etc When we moved to Farnsfield nearly ten years ago we were unable to get our then 8 year old son into St Michael’s Primary due to lack of space. We lived less than a five minute walk away from the school. We managed to get him into Kirklington Primary (necessitating car use every day) but only following a protracted appeals process. There have been two more housing developments built since then I can only imagine the situation is now far worse.

The GP surgery is already stretched to its limits, the Main Street is a serious RTA waiting to happen due to the sheer volume of traffic and lack of space, the drains often overflow with heavy rainfall… the list is a long one. The infrastructure is simply not there for more housing and the population that will come with it.

One of Farnsfield’s original appeals to us were the beautiful green spaces surrounding the village which the housing development will encroach upon still further, much to the village’s detriment. Will it indeed still be a ‘village’ or thenceforward a ‘town’?

I emailed Planning and copied the clerk into my response the the EIA. I include here for you:

I wish to raise my objection in the strongest possible terms to this development on the edge of the beautiful village of Farnsfield which has had more than its fair share of additional housing in the past 10yrs.

The proposal breaches the neighbourhood plan and sits outside the ‘envelope’ of the village.

Far far too many houses resulting in 400+ people putting unsustainable pressure on local services and quality of life for residents and significantly changing the nature and landscape of the village. The school is already at capacity, it’s difficult to get medical appointments, sports facilities are very busy, scouts and guides are looking for larger premises to cope with additional demand in recent years gives to an idea of how little capacity the village has for more development.

Parking is at a premium, weekends see a number of out of village visitors who come to enjoy the environment which creates traffic issues on the main road and park areas. Traffic at peak school times is awful and at times unsafe for pedestrians with speeding cars. This proposal will make it far worse.

We are also a low lying village at risk of flooding in areas with poor surface water drainage maintenance causing issues. I doubt the existing creaking foul water drainage would cope with such a massive increase in flow; there have been two examples of collapsed foul drainage in the village recently with raw sewerage running down the main road.

There is very little employment opportunity locally, so the residents will be travelling for work - by car, because local transport links are poor. No rail and limited bus services to Nottingham and none to support getting there for normal working shifts.

Please do not allow this proposal to proceed. I think a new housing estate will completely swamp the facilities we have in a small village like Farnsfield. It will bring more traffic into the village blocking the high street even more .All of this will take away the village feel . At the end of the day the village needs new infastructure first to prepare for any expansion of housing A disgustingly short-sighted, greedy and ruinous plan to destroy a well-loved, characterful village already at capacity.

There is currently the optimum amount of public services in Farnsfield, for Farnsfield.
There is no spare provision for the number of people these ludicrous houses will drag into the village. Not at the primary school, the Minster secondary school it feeds to, the associated full school buses, the GP, the lovely but tiny pharmacy, the auto centre, the churches, the parking, the single lane Main Street (there are always parked cars), the neighbourhood/rural policing allocation, parks and green spaces, etc. There are currently 43 properties for sale or sold STC in Farnsfield, above average for a village this size. NO-ONE NEEDS OR WANTS MORE HOMES HERE! Clearly more GREED than need, no doubt. Also, we all know the calibre of resident that comes with "affordable housing" and we have enough of those thank you. We also have drainage issues, particularly after heavy rain, previously reported to Severn Trent. My final point is the appalling destruction of a natural biodiverse environment, which is crucial as we lose ever-more wildlife habitats and green space to building and development and more building. There is no ecologically responsible way of creating 140 brick buildings and associated infrastructure. We do not want a single house on that natural land. Expect significant objections and protests before you bullies get your fat hands on our green-belt land! 140 is a large development - traffic measures around the area, pedestrian access need major improvements for safety The village will loose its uniqueness See my responses to question 4. Another housing estate would be a blight to Farnsfield Road safety and volume of traffic along Main Street a real concern. Parking associated with this also.

School capacity and other public services such as pharmacy and GP surgery. We need more housing. If there is a need for more infrastructure then that should be picked up during the planning, the people of Farnsfield should stop pulling up the rope ladder behind them. If the parish council of past wasn’t so ineffective then precious section .108 money could have improved facilities already. We need more houses so let them build them. Concerned that services are already stretched. Parking and getting through the village is already an issue. Cars speed into the village and adding more is dangerous. The recent developments in Farnsfield have been thoughtful additions and as someone who grew up in the village it has enabled me to buy a family home here. The recent developments have been fairly small compared to the proposed one and the building design and quality is good. I am very concerned that the proposed development will be too many houses placed very close together and not of good quality as seen in other developments in areas such as alongside the A46. This will detract from the character of the village.

It’s very challenging to get a timely appointment at the GP surgery and extra residents will place strain on existing health services, making it harder still. The village does not have the infrastructure to cope at present

Too big a development for the village size and infrastructure-especially roads and primary healthcare. I am a retired GP and aware of the current risks/safety of the current through roads in Farnsfield. These have not been addressed despite several e mail in past year. Also that primary healthcare is working at capacity Traffic is already a big problem especially on Main Street with motorists being frustrated and some mounting curbs, Fist shaking and arguing.
While pedestrian, those with prams and disabilities are ignored.
Traffic will be forced onto minor roads which already have problems. Station Lane, Quaker lane and Tippings lane to say a few.
This development shouldn’t be assessed in isolation. The most recent housing developments in the village have had a significant impact on the capacity of local infrastructure I.e healthcare, education, traffic/parking and community facilities.

A previous report on the planned housing in the village (pre-2026) stated that any new housing would be a challenge for the village. Through individual planning and development the village has already expanded to a point where infrastructure can’t cope. The school is over subscribed (280 pupil capacity with 302 current numbers), the surgery can’t cope with numbers during the summer and during winter this becomes critical, the cricket club which is the largest sports facility in the village is over subscribed and had to turn children away this season, there isn’t enough parking generally in the village for those who want to access shops and services, let alone restaurants and pubs.

I also have concerns about the location of the development which will create a separate space rather than being integrated with the village.

In short thank you for consulting but having considered the proposal I have serious concerns that the scale and location of the development have not been adequately justified against Farnsfields existing infrastructure, planning history, environmental constraints and the cumulative impact of previous housing growth The village cannot cope with the level of new builds already. There are parking and traffic issues, and difficulties accessing a GP. The condition of the roads is poor. I do not believ3 that the village cannot sustain another development. Farnsfield village in my opinion is full to capacity it cannot cope with more houses the increase in traffic the pressure it will add to our already overloaded doctors surgery and chemist. Parking is already a struggle resulting in more and more dangerous parking. The overloading of school places. This needs to stop as a village we struggle enough never mind adding another 140 houses. 140 is far too big an impact for a small village
We’ve had enough new developments in the village over the last 27 years! 160 houses will probably be at least 1,2 or more cars per household, putting strain on roads through village. We only really have two main ways - Main Street and Station Lane - and if the main road is closed, Station Lane is like the A1. Safety is an issue. The number of bigger vehicles forcing their way through at times is ridiculous and dangerous.

The school will probably struggle to cope with the extra numbers of children likely to be moving into these houses, then that would mean parents having to drive their children elsewhere, putting strain on the village roads at a busy time.

Getting an appointment at the doctors is already an issue (I had to wait 5 weeks for a blood test a few months ago, even longer for a smear test), so the impact of 160:houses would see the strain on their services become worse.

Flooding can be an issue in the village at certain points such as on Ridgeway, so more houses connected to the drains and sewage systems will increase the issues.

The cost of the houses in the village are unaffordable to a lot of people who have grown up here, including my daughter, and I don’t suppose that the proposed housing will be much cheaper, even if it is meant to be affordable. Will local people be given a good chance to stay in the village?

Farnsfield was a smaller village when we moved here, and since then three new housing areas have been built in the edges of the village. It is fast becoming less of a village and more of a small town, with fewer facilities than say Southwell.

Lastly, these houses would be built on farmland, and the country desperately needs farmland doe crops and food, or we all be facing food issues in coming years. Once concreted over, the land is lost.

GP surgery is our biggest concern as we use it regularly. We are considerably concerned here. we struggle to get a Gp appointment already at times despite having a very serious medical condition. Two hours wait for an ambulance to our area despite it being for a suspected aortic dissection. The road and traffic through the village and around the village is already difficult , closing off the centre and diverting across station lane recently caused absolute chaos at busy times. Putting the vulnerable and children at risk . There is little visibility around the cars parked already . The flow of traffic is already stop start within the village.

The effect on the village wildlife will be considerable. The village has already taken a considerable number of new houses in recent years. Given its size and infrastructure I cannot see where the housing need is stemming from for houses to be placed in the village . The roads are just passable at times of heavy downpour as it is in parts. The run off water is quite clearly an issue already .
we are concerned about the wildlife given the number of animals we see on the road as it is. pushing yet more animals and wildlife from hedgerows and land towards the road. I am increasingly concerned that no environmental impact assessment is ‘required’ given the size of the village. I cannot see how , 140 new houses is proportionate to the size of farnsfield and would like to know how it has been considered that there is such a need for housing in this area.

This development would put significant strain on an already over-subscribed village, would have an adverse effect on our wildlife and puts the village at risk of losing its charm. This estate is not viable and should not be pursued. I have no concerns with this development, I was only able to move back to the village because of a new development that provided affordable housing. Any issues are mitigated as part of the planning process and funds are provided to the local parish as part of the development, it is up to the parish how these funds are used (or not). This development isn’t even at the planning stage so I would wait for the process to start before trying to shut it down. I feel this is a done deal, however more houses now when we have had such a lot of estates built in recent years is not needed. I feel the village is at its limit. If the development was offering a shop or a community hall, cafe, farm shop and the number of houses is a lot less such as 20 or so then maybe the village would be more accommodating.
The doctors is struggling now and the school is at capacity but the main issue is the volume of cars going along Main Street. It’s a nightmare whatever time you go through so increasing the traffic by at least another 140 cars if each house had a car would mean that a high percentage of them would at some point need to use Main Street. It’s just not happening, other routes are even narrower than Main Street. Not sure what the alternative is.
Lastly I don’t think we need social housing just more affordable for our young to get on the housing ladder and have the option to stay in the village they grew up in.
My family have lived and worked in the village for around 80 years and their have been changes and change sometimes is needed, however I think we are at saturation point now.
A lot of the issues raised are very biased and are from entitled people, some who have only just moved into the village into new builds themselves, sadly relate to bigger issues with the country and not the village ie doctors, from what i am aware the school has plenty of capacity as there is an entire classroom which sits empty whithin the school and a lot of children attend from surrounding villages. New builds are designed to cope with there own surface water for flooding. And the traffic isn't an issue. I commute in and out of the village daily.The actual development in my opinion will not affect the village or the community in a way which people believe it will, as the developments which have been built in my life, which is now 4, haven't changed the village at all, only bought more families into the area which is fantastic.