Wigwam Explained

The County Council bought a piece of land (4.08 hectares) off Wigwam Lane, Hucknall in 1938 from Mrs Emily Story. The Council subsequently bought two other pieces of land adjoining this land

The Council sold most of this land in April 2006 to a developer, Cofton Ltd for £5.8m. The Council retains ownership of 0.8 hectare which will be part of the site for the new school. At the same time the Co-op sold a much larger piece of land to the north (41.5 hectares) known as Grange Farm.

What is planned for the site?

Cofton have sold the majority of the land to four housebuilders. Coftons will develop the public spaces and access roads. 770 houses will eventually be built on the site.

The development will include:

• A country park of 11.63 hectares
• Formal playing pitches – 5 complete with changing facilities and car parking on the land formerly owned by the Co-op. A further playing pitch located on the land formerly owned by the Council, together with changing facilities and car parking.
• An urban square – Papplewick Square – which will measure 50m x 50m.
• A Village Green measuring .25 hectares
• A walkway to link the former Wigwam playing fields area and the new formal sports facilities.
• A new primary school which will have plenty of play ground space and two junior football pitches


What planning processes has this piece of land been subject to?

The Ashfield Local Plan Review was adopted by Ashfield District Council in November 2002. This identified the site as suitable for residential development.

The site was subject to a Development Brief, which was approved by Ashfield District Council in March 2004. This document looked at the site as a whole and made recommendations for the numbers of houses to be built and the leisure and community facilities that would be needed.

Outline planning permission for the development was given in August 2004 by Ashfield District Council.

Detailed planning permission is expected to be sought in the near future.


School plans

We plan to build a new Primary School on the site at a cost of £5.5m. This school would also replace Beardall St Primary.


How could the Council sell the land for development if it had a covenant on it?

Our independent legal advice said that when Emily Story died, in effect, the covenant died too. Because she did not own any land next to the piece she sold us in 1938, this also makes the covenant unenforceable.


Why did the Council sell the land?


Where we don’t need a piece of land we are obliged to get the best possible price so we can reinvest the money in facilities for the people of Nottinghamshire.


Why did you take out an insurance indemnity?

It’s standard practice to protect the families who will eventually buy the houses on the land.


What money has been spent in Hucknall in recent years, and what money does the Council plan to spend in Hucknall in the next few years?


• Spring St Primary has been refurblshed – cost £3m
• Beardall St Primary will be re built at a cost of £5.5m
• Butlers Hill Childrens Centre has been built – cost £1.8m
• Jubilee court older peoples home built – cost £2.5m
• Titchfield Park leisure facilities being improved at a cost of £240k