Over 350 New Objections Add Momentum to Fight Against Major Green Belt Housing Estate
Kilburn, Derbyshire – The Save Kilburn and Horsley Green Belt (SKHGB) committee has handed in more than 350 new objections to Amber Valley Borough Council. It was an early Christmas present and a powerful show of community resistance to protect the Green Belt.
Photo Credit: Save Kilburn & Horsley Green Belt (SKHGB)
Members of SKHGB, residents and supporters gathered on Ripley Market Place to submit the newly gathered objections, which has pushed the total number of objections past 1,200.
The campaign was first inspired by Jasmine, a nine-year-old from the local community, who pinned her hand-drawn protest poster to the gate of one of the fields the developer wants to build on. Her simple idea helped shape the whole campaign, including the nowfamiliar slogans: “Trees Not Tarmac”, “Cows Not Concrete” and “Fields Not Floods”.
Jasmine has also spoken about protecting the wildlife that calls these fields home, reminding everyone that the countryside is more than just scenery - it’s a living habitat. Jasmine and her friends were also present to show their support.
SKHGB is a community-led, non-political group formed by local residents. The committee is clear: we’re not against sensible, sustainable development. We’re against this development because it would erode the distinct identities of Kilburn and Horsley, villages defined by their heritage, close-knit community and rural character. The development would not only erode much-loved countryside but also undermine the sense of place that generations of residents have worked to preserve.
The planning application, submitted by Wheeldon Brothers (Derby), asks for permission to build up to 200 houses on 9.88 hectares of Green Belt, including around 70 ‘affordable’ properties. The development could bring 450–550 new residents and an estimated 350 additional cars.
SKHGB believes the application is entirely speculative, pointing out that:
- the site is not in the current or emerging Amber Valley Local Plan
- the Local Plan specifically says the land is not suitable for housing
- AVBC has already identified enough land to meet housing needs to 2040 without needing this site
The group also says the application tries to blur Green Belt policy by presenting the land as “grey belt” a new government concept intended for poor-quality or previously developed land. This site is neither.
Other major issues include:
- no meaningful mitigation for traffic, road safety, public transport, drainage or sewage
- the fields currently act as natural drainage; replacing them with hard surfaces would increase the flood risk downstream
- the proposal is a major housing estate, not small-scale infill and would permanently change the rural landscape
Andy Vallans, SKHGB vice chair, said: “Even in today’s dreadful weather, the strength of local feeling was unmistakable. It was genuinely uplifting to see so many people turn out, with Santa there and local children - including Jasmine and her friends - proudly standing up for the fields they love. That says everything. This is not abstract policy for our community; it is about protecting Green Belt land, wildlife and the identity of Kilburn and Horsley. Handing in more than 350 new objections just before Christmas sends a clear message to the Council: this campaign is growing, it belongs to the community, and it is getting stronger.”
So far, the campaign has:
- helped inspire over 1,200 formal objections
- delivered 2,400 letters to local households
- put up 850 posters, 60 roadside placards, and five banners
- held a public meeting with 150 attendees, with a further public meeting arranged for 28 January 2026
- featured on BBC East Midlands Today, BBC East Midlands Politics, and BBC Radio Derby
Residents can still submit objections. A simple template letter to enable residents to customise with their own experiences is available at www.skhgb.co.uk
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