Yorke Drive Focus
Yorke Drive Focus
We have been working hard to develop a masterplan for the existing Yorke Drive estate and Lincoln Road playing fields to improve the safety of the area, build more homes for rent and sale, and make it a nicer place to live.
The community has been involved at every step of the way, through a range of engagement and consultation events to refine the plans.
Residents on the Yorke Drive estate can look forward to a brighter future after exciting plans to regenerate the area were approved at the Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee on Thursday, 13 February 2025.
What this means for you:
- 207 new properties – a mix of private and social homes.
- Improvements to safety and living conditions.
- Enhanced playing fields and a new sports pavilion.
- Energy-efficient homes including heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage and increased parking with EV charge points.
- Protected green spaces and better links with surrounding areas.
What happens next:
- The Tenancy and Estates team have reviewed the needs of everyone wishing to leave the Yorke Drive estate and are in the process of moving residents in phases one and two to suitable homes that become available in the district. Residents who wish to remain on the estate and move into one of the new homes being built, will receive information on their allocated plot and timeframes once we have a fixed date for the start of construction.
- The project team continue to work hard on discharging the planning conditions from the Outline and Reserved Matters consents, to enable works on site to begin.
- Work on the redevelopment is set to begin in 2026, with construction starting on the playing fields.
You can view all the submitted plans and documents by visiting the District Council’s planning portal. The planning application reference is 22/01528/RMAM.
Due to the scale of this project, it will be delivered in several phases. These will include improvements to the playing fields, construction of a new sports pavilion, and the provision of new homes for existing residents whose properties are within the demolition area.
Go to our phasing of work page to see when each area of the estate will be affected.
Planning and Construction update
After securing planning consent in February 2025, the team have been working to meet the requirements of the planning conditions. As with any large project, there are numerous technical details which require approval before being able to start building the new homes.
Some of the conditions that we are still working on require consultation with Nottinghamshire County Council (Highways) and the Local Lead Flood Authority on the details around the drainage strategy and the technical approvals required for the roads.
Projects of this scale often take over 12 months to discharge conditions, and we thank you for your patience as we work through these technical details.
Additional funding secured for more energy efficient homes
On Monday 24 November, it was announced that an additional £1m has been awarded to the Yorke Drive project by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).
This additional funding will go towards increased energy efficiency measures to be installed in the new affordable homes, adding solar panels and battery storage in addition to the already planned air source heat pumps. Residents should see a significant difference to the running costs of their homes, resulting in real cost savings.
Meet the team
Emily Price (left) has been working on the Yorke Drive project since August 2025 and is providing project support to the team. Emily is currently working towards a qualification in Project Management, so being involved with the Yorke Drive project is a fantastic opportunity for her to learn and grow while supporting the community.
Carol Moon (second from left) has been part of the Yorke Drive project since September 2025. She serves as Housing Officer, dedicated exclusively to the Yorke Drive Regeneration. Carol is currently overseeing the move-off process, ensuring the decant programme is delivered smoothly and efficiently. Carol will also support tenants moving into the new homes being built.
Ellie Buchanan (second from right) has been working on the Yorke Drive project since October 2024 and brings lots of experience from her work on other regeneration schemes. She will be managing the project going forwards and oversee the rehousing of residents.
Chris Morton (right) has been working on the Yorke Drive project since June 2023 and is providing project support. His role for residents will be to support the project team and assisting with the decant process.
We also appointed Lovell Partnerships as the preferred contractor to deliver the scheme through their regeneration arm Compendium Living.
FAQs
Based on feedback from residents, we have created an FAQ section. We will be adding to these FAQs over time – if you have any further questions, please email these through to yorkedrive@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk
What are the sizes of the new properties compared to the existing homes at Yorke Drive?
The new homes proposed at Yorke Drive have been designed in accordance with the standards set out within the Nationally Described Space Standards policy.
The table below shows the average-sized affordable property from across the district, compared to the new affordable homes being built at Yorke Drive.
The 1 bed flats, 3 and 4 bed properties all have, on average, larger internal spaces
|
|
Average size for a typical NSDC affordable property in the district |
Size of the new affordable homes at Yorke Drive
|
|
1 bed flat |
41.9m2 |
56.5m2- 64.4m2 |
|
2 bed house |
84m2 |
79.1m2 |
|
3 bed house |
79.6m2 |
93.3m2 |
|
4 bed house |
97m2-161m2 |
112.5m2 - 113.6m2 |
All gardens provided within the new designs are located at the rear of the properties and will be private. The only properties that do not have their own private space are the first-floor flats, however, the approved masterplan contains a large provision of green space throughout the estate, which all tenants can use and enjoy.
What choices are available for the kitchen and bathroom finishes?
There will be limited flexibility on the choice of the standard kitchen and bathroom finishes and we will be in touch nearer the time to share these options with you. The regeneration team will be able to support you through these choices and costs at the relevant time.
Is there a choice on how the kitchen is configured and where the washing machine will be located?
The layouts of the kitchen cupboards and location of the washing machines will be set, due to the positioning of the pipework.
Can the loft be boarded for storage space?
Access will not be provided to the loft space in any property. It will be locked with access only permitted for Newark and Sherwood District Council’s repairs and maintenance team. The lofts are not designed for storage, and excess items stored in the loft may result in issues with damp and mould.
Will carpets be installed in advance and who will arrange this?
The standard finish for properties will be vinyl in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet, and a painted floor finish throughout the rest of the property.
New carpet will not be installed as standard, unless agreed and paid for in advance by the tenant. If tenants want to install new flooring before they move in, they will have the choice from a selection of flooring options via Compendium Living and can arrange with the regeneration team to have these included within their home, at an additional cost. This can be paid for directly by the tenant or a proportion of the Home Loss payment can be used to cover these costs.
Alternatively, tenants can choose to take up their existing carpets and reinstall in their new homes.
Can I use my own carpet fitter?
If residents wish to have new carpets installed before they move in, the installation will be limited to existing approved contractors as the site will still be a live building site. Once you have moved into your new home you can use and pay for an alternative provider.
Who is the provider for utilities, i.e. sky and Virgin Media?
All properties will be installed with FTTP (fibre to the premise) using OpenReach apparatus. When tenants move into their new homes, they will need to decide and contact their chosen internet provider.
Who will be the water provider and will there be a water meter
Severn Trent Water supplies 4.6 million households and businesses across the Midlands and Wales including Nottinghamshire. You will automatically have your water and water meter supplied by them and you will need to contact them to set an account up.
Who will be the electrical provider?
All properties will be registered with our preferred supplier at the time, which is typically Eon. Once tenants have moved in, they can contact and change to their preferred supplier straight away.
What will the council tax bands be for the new properties?
Council tax bands are set by government through the Valuation Office Agency, which NSDC do not have any control over.
The valuations for each band are normally completed when a new property is substantially complete, meaning the utilities are installed and the internal walls and plaster work are complete. Until this stage, we are unable to confirm the exact council tax bands for the new properties, but we expect them to be similar to those of the existing homes on the estate.
How will drainage be improved to avoid future flooding?
A Drainage Strategy was submitted as part of our planning application and as part of the consultation process with statutory bodies, detailing the measures to be installed across the site to help prevent future flooding at Yorke Drive. This includes soakaways and the installation of permeable block paving on driveways stemming from the adoptable roads.
Resident Impact and Involvement
Community engagement has been fundamental to the development of the Yorke Drive regeneration, shaping every stage of the project from early design to policy development.
We committed to reaching every household on the estate; achieved through a combination of community workshops, one-to-one engagement, display events, and household visits, enabling residents to influence key decisions.
A key outcome has been the creation of the Yorke Drive Residents Panel, a diverse group representing tenants, homeowners, families, and older residents.
Over the years, the panel, chaired by a resident from Yorke Drive, has made some significant and impactful contributions to the project, including being part of:
■ the procurement of the developer partner;
■ the procurement of the removal’s contractor;
■ development of the Decant Policy, offering tenants a clear choice to either remain on the estate or relocate, with a commitment to only moving residents once;
■ development of the Equity Loan Model, providing a fair and flexible route to home ownership;
■ creation of the Tenant and Residents Charter for the construction phase of the project setting out our commitments throughout the construction phase of the project;
■ contributions to different housing layouts; and
■ the inclusion of the hedgehog highways.
A separate youth group also input directly to the design of the play areas across the estate.
The panel has its own Code of Conduct and Terms of Reference. Moving forward, the panel will play a key role in representing tenants and residents through the construction period of the regeneration. If you would like to join the panel, please email yorkedrive@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk.
Residents are also kept informed through the Yorke Drive Focus newsletter, which is created and distributed four times a year, and contains the latest information on the regeneration project, as well as activities and events organised by the Resident Panel. A copy of the latest edition and previous versions can be viewed on our Yorke Drive documents page.
To support residents through the regeneration project, Newark and Sherwood District Council will pay for and arrange all removal costs to residents to move into their new homes (whether off the estate or to a new home being built). Following a procurement process we are delighted to announce that Amer Logistics Ltd have been appointed to provide the removals service.
We will contact each resident to arrange a convenient move date and provide support throughout the removal process.
For more information about what you need to check when you move home, go to: https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/movinghome/
Get in touch
If you would like more information about this project, or to speak with a member of the team, please contact yorkedrive@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk
You can also keep up to date with the latest project news by following our Yorke Drive Focus Facebook page.
Documents
To view the communications and supporting documents relating to Yorke Drive please visit our Yorke Drive documents webpage.