Plans to build more than 400 houses at Matlock's Cawdor Quarry have been resubmitted to the district council – following the discovery of widespread contamination at the site.
Groveholt Ltd wants to develop the site near Sainsburys and was given planning permission in 2002.
But, as we reported in February, analysis of the land revealed the contamination and plans have been delayed ever since with costs escalating.
C
hanges have now been made to comply with decontamination strategies imposed by the Environment Agency and rules from Network Rail that would have meant unsightly concrete barriers running along all roads next to the track.
Although the broad details – including 432 homes, 22 business units and a community centre – remain unchanged, the layout of about half the houses has now been altered.
Planning officer Jon Bradbury said: "The developers have reanalysed the site and realised that some things are difficult to achieve so they have come back with modifications.
"These revised plans will go before the planning committee in due course."
Insistence by the Environment Agency that the whole site be remediated before the development takes place have added significantly to the cost – it is estimated that developers would have to pay £6m to clear the land of the hydrocarbon contamination in large areas of the former stone and limestone quarry.
Anybody wishing to comment on the new application has until October 30 to contact the district council.
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