Disappointment as Council Approves Housing‑Only Plan for Manor Kingsway

Disappointment as Council Approves Housing‑Only Plan for Manor Kingsway

Local residents and community campaigners are disappointed following the Council’s decision to approve a planning application approving the remaining business land at Manor Kingsway used entirely for housing, with no provision for shops or local services.

When Manor Kingsway was first marketed, the plans and brochures showed a mixed community with homes, local jobs, shops, and businesses. Responses to a recent survey of residents found that none wanted a housing‑only estate. All said they wanted some shops or small businesses included — with the most requested being a convenience store or corner shop. Other popular suggestions included a café, hairdresser or barber, takeaway, children’s nursery, DIY and gardening store, bakery, and car‑repair garage.

It was also suggested that small businesses could be placed on the ground floor with housing above, noting that three‑ and four‑storey homes already exist in the area.

At the Planning Committee meeting, Cllr Lucy Care highlighted the importance of building a community and not just homes. She asked for evidence that land marketing for businesses had been effective and sufficient. She also asked what had been learnt from the travel plans and habits from other parts of the estate. She was not satisfied with the answers given and voted against the application.

Local facilities were part of the original promise made to people when they chose to make their home at Manor Kingsway. The roundabout at the entrance to the estate is frequently gridlocked, so enabling people to walk to shops and jobs within the estate would help reduce pressure on one of Derby’s major traffic choke points.

Other Councillors regretted that a similar situation had occurred at the Hackwood estate in Mickleover, which also lacks local facilities. Highways officers raised no objection to the additional housing, even though residents report that local roads are already under strain. Despite this, the Committee approved the change to housing only.

Leigh Alcock, Lib Dem campaigner for Abbey ward said:

“Residents were originally told that Manor Kingsway would have shops, services and local jobs. Those promises have not been delivered. People here clearly want more than just housing — they want a real community with shops and services they can walk to, not another estate where every trip requires a car.

“At a time when the city is trying to tackle climate change and reduce traffic, removing all space for local businesses is a step in the wrong direction. The Council had the chance to keep the option for shops and services, even with housing above them, but chose not to.”

The decision means that once the remaining land is built on, there will be little or no opportunity to add local facilities in future.