Boots Beeston housing site plans 'ludicrous'
Residents living in a Nottinghamshire town have described proposals to build over 1,000 houses on an industrial site as "ludicrous".
People say schools and roads would struggle to cope if plans go ahead on the Boots Headquarters site in Beeston.
Broxtowe Borough Council said it was a better option to develop part of that site than to build on greenbelt land.
Planners expect an application from Boots for 1,150 homes, a link road and land set for industrial use.
The houses would be built on land adjoining the Beeston canal and be connected to a new road linking Beeston Rylands with the A52 near Clifton Bridge.
'Site an eyesore'
Resident Harry Strong, who lives near the site, said: "When Boots turn out at night or in the morning when they arrive, there's a lot of traffic and the road can't cope with it.
"One would assume there's enough brownfield sites for them to choose.
"To build down there is ludicrous... I think they're wrong."
Steve Barber, chairman of planning for Broxtowe Borough Council, said: "It's land that really has to be reused.
"If we don't, we'll have to build on greenbelt and we don't really want to do that.
"We can't leave this land derelict, it's an eyesore and it's a great asset to the town.
"More people living in the area would be good because some shops do struggle there."
Boots said in a statement: "We can confirm the Nottingham Enterprise Zone team is looking at the infrastructure required on the Alliance Boots Beeston site.
"Proposals are currently under discussion, however, there is no further update at this time."
Money is being made available for cleaning up the site, with work potentially starting in 2014 if the plans are submitted and approved.