THE future of a green space earmarked for eco-friendly housing hangs in the balance now developers have sold the land.

Plans to turn Springfield Pastures, in Alexandra Park, into a housing development have been in the works for more than 10 years.

It finally looked set to go ahead as a legal agreement between Nottingham City Council and Developers Gladedale Homes was signed last month.

But Gladedale has now has sold the land, although it has not revealed the identity of the buyer.

A spokesperson said: "The site has been sold so we wouldn't be able to comment on work commencing."

The overgrown patch off Woodborough Road, between The Crescent and Hungerhill Gardens, has planning permission for 15 houses and a small ecological reserve.

The houses would have solar panels to heat water, green roofs, low-energy internal and external light fittings and would collect rainwater for washing machines and toilets.

Mapperley ward councillor Emma Dewinton said she and many residents were in favour of the idea.

Councillor Dewinton said: "We supported it because it has got to be built on and it would be excellent to have a good development there."

The eco-homes were approved by the city council's development control committee in April 2008, after earlier plans to build flats on the green space were turned down.

The land has stood unused since then.

In 1999, SPG Development applied to build 50 self-contained flats with car parking there, but residents and landowners at the nearby St Ann's Allotments objected.

The council commissioned architect Julian Marsh to look at an eco-friendly use for the patch in 2002.

Mr Marsh said in his planning brief that 15 or 16 low-energy homes should be built there.

The south-facing side of the plot was said to be ideal for low-energy homes using solar panels and other energy sources.

But the area has remained untouched for years as Gladedale worked to win permission to build three blocks of flats instead.

The group were turned down by the city council, who were backed by a Government inspector when Gladedale appealed.

Gladedale then submitted plans to build the eco-friendly houses in December 2007.

Originally, the land was part of the gardens of Springfield House, one of the large Victorian houses in Alexandra Park.

The patch was separated from the house in the mid 1980s when it was refurbished and converted into seven apartments, but it has since been neglected.

Caroline.lowbridge@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk