Major step forward for £20m Pride in Place community-led investment in Carlton area

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💷 Carlton areas to receive millions in Government funding under 'Pride in Place' programme

Another major step has been taken on plans for £20m community-led investment in Carlton and the surrounding area over the next 10 years.

The Government has signed off on Carlton's Pride in Place submission plans for the framework for how it will use the investment, which includes using it as effectively a starting point to attract more investment in the town.

The programme will now move into delivery - marking a significant milestone in a once-in-a-generation plan shaped directly by local people. 

David S Stewart OBE, Chair of the Greater Carlton Neighbourhood Board, said:  “This is a hugely positive moment for Greater Carlton. This programme has been shaped by our communities, and this endorsement means we can now move forward with confidence and purpose.

"We are committed to ensuring residents remain at the heart of delivery, with visible progress that makes a real difference to people’s lives.” 

"The Pride in Place programme is driven by a commitment to putting residents first, ensuring that investment reflects the real needs, ambitions and voices of the community. The plan will deliver targeted improvements across Greater Carlton, supporting safer neighbourhoods, stronger local economies, better health outcomes and increased opportunities for people of all ages. 

Gedling MP Michael Payne said the approval was 'fantastic news' for residents and businesses

“The approval of this plan is a clear vote of confidence in Greater Carlton and its future.

"We’ve listened carefully to what our communities have told us, and this investment will help deliver safer neighbourhoods, more opportunities for young people, stronger local centres and improved wellbeing across the borough.” 

The programme will begin delivering benefits from Year 1, including support for community organisations, improvements to green spaces, investment in sports facilities, and initiatives to strengthen local retail centres and high streets. 

Over time, the programme will expand to include skills development, business support, heritage investment and community-led initiatives, ensuring long-term, sustainable change across the area. 

The plan forms part of a wider 10-year vision to transform Greater Carlton, improving quality of life for more than 53,000 residents who live across the area, and creating a stronger, more resilient local economy. 

The programme represents a £20 million investment over 10 years and replaces the previous Long-Term Plan for Towns (LTPfT) and Plan for Neighbourhoods programmes, which have been reformed and rebranded by Government since 2024. 

🏗️ Fears village becoming a town as almost 100 homes on open countryside approved

A developer has promised hundreds of thousands of pounds in improvements to a village in Nottinghamshire after concerns were raised over its plans for almost 100 homes.

Gedling Borough Council’s planning committee approved a 93-home development on land east of Westhouse Farm, in Moor Road, Bestwood Village, at a meeting on Wednesday (March 25).

They have been tabled by developer Langridge Homes.

To the west of the site is Hawthorne Primary and Nursery School, and 101 homes have already been built in the wider area, following its allocation for housing under a council plan.

“The scheme would provide a wide range of house types from one to five bedroom, the majority of which would be two-storey, along with two bungalows,” planning documents said.

“The majority of properties would be detached or semi-detached, along with a terrace of three two-bed properties.”

Several concerns were raised during the meeting before plans were approved, including a loss of privacy, poor transport links, and the impact on the area’s amenities and facilities.

Cllr Darren Maltby (Con), who represents Bestwood St Albans, raised issue with the potential for flooding, as well as “horrific” traffic, and poor public transport links.

“Bestwood St Albans is increasingly growing, particularly around the village area, we have no pub, no doctors, no dentist, it has got one convenience store,” he said.

“What consideration has been given towards helping getting a few more facilities locally?”

A council planning officer said there was nothing the council could do in terms of the pub, but emphasised there was a significant amount of money pledged for local improvements by the developer; under what’s known as a Section 106 contribution.

He said the development shouldn’t impact the wider flood risk and there has been no objection from the statutory consultees, including the lead flood authority and the Environment Agency.

Eight objections were received by the council, with concerns ranging from Bestwood being turned into a town due to development, and a shortage of frontline health services and other facilities within the village.

A resident of Keepers Close, which borders the site, spoke during the meeting to highlight her concerns over the impact on her street which is comprised mostly of bungalows.

“Most of the residents are elderly, so a five-bedroom detached house at the bottom of the plot is going to constitute a massive invasion of our privacy ”

Councillors imposed an amendment to the plans that requires any windows facing the bungalows on one particular plot, where a five-bedroom house will be built, to be frosted.

The developer’s planned financial contributions were praised.

In total £777,850 will go toward education provision, £3,278 to be used by Nottinghamshire County Council as a contribution towards enhancing library provision at Arnold Library, a primary healthcare contribution of £50,394.37 and £41,400 for bus stop improvements.

There will also be an open space contribution – in the absence of a play area – of £261,607.20, and maintenance contribution of £119,320.00.

In addition, a contribution of £31,400 is sought for the maintenance of the identified local play area.

Of the properties, 28 are planned to be made affordable, including 20 for social rent and eight shared-ownership properties.

Cllr Catherine Pope (Lab) added: “It is actually quite refreshing somebody is coming along and they are actually going to give all of the allocations for a change, and the right amount of social affordable housing.

“That is to be commended.”

By Joe Locker
(Local Democracy Reporter)

👶 Three children and baby hubs will open in Gedling borough in a bid to make family life easier

Families across Gedling struggling with the cost of living can save money on services including free stay and play sessions for babies and young children, as a number of new Best Start Family Hubs open in the borough, building on the legacy of Sure Start. 

Parents will be able to access help with infant feeding, parenting advice and early support for children with SEND, in one place, reducing the need to pay for private classes or specialist support. 

On top of savings of up to £200 a year through free stay and play sessions, many hubs will also provide access to debt advice and welfare guidance, which could help families access support they may otherwise miss and improve their financial position.

The following three family hubs are to be set up in the borough:

• Netherfield Family Hub, Netherfield
• Killisick Family Hub, Coppice
• Arnbrook Family Hub, Daybrook

The programme builds on the legacy of Sure Start, while updating family services for the modern world – combining face-to-face and digital support, strong partnerships with early years settings, and better use of existing community partners and spaces.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "Children growing up in our country deserve the best start in life, but for too long, too many families have been navigating the pressures of parenthood without the support they need.

"Best Start Family Hubs will revitalise family services - bringing together health, parenting support and practical advice in one place, free and close to home, so that parents can get the help they need, when they need it. 

“I’ve seen the difference Sure Start made in my community, and why it’s so important that we bring that support back today, reimagined for a new generation of families.

"Whether it's advice on child development, help with additional needs, or simply a friendly face in the community, this government is putting the support so many families used to rely on, back into each and every community.”

Every Best Start Family Hub will include dedicated outreach workers to reach families, alongside a practitioner to help identify additional needs early – particularly those who might otherwise fall through the cracks – helping them access the right support sooner without being passed between services. 

Alongside this, Healthy Babies support will be delivered through Best Start Family Hubs - bringing together health and early support such as midwifery, health visiting, infant feeding and perinatal mental health support. 

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