PLANNING officers at Rotherham have promised to consult with all residents who will be affected by a plan to turn the site of a former colliery into a new village.
The authority made the pledge after officially receiving an outline planning application from UK Coal for thousands of homes on the 230 hectare (570 acre) site near Catcliffe.
Blueprints show an initial build of 3,900 houses plus a variety of comm
unity facilities to include two primary schools, small shops, a food store, a hotel, pubs, restaurants and open space.
UK Coal's development arm Harworth Estates says a quarter of the proposed houses and flats are to be affordable housing, including a mix of rented and shared-ownership units.
Planning permission has already been given for the neighbouring Waverley Advanced Manufacturing Park and this is being developed to the north of the new housing site.
A council spokesman said: "The proposed new community site lies close to the villages of Treeton, Orgreave, Catcliffe, Brinsworth and Aston in Rotherham, and the Handsworth, Woodhouse Mill and Darnall areas of Sheffield.
"Although some consultation has already been undertaken by UK Coal, it is intended that further consultation with local communities will be carried out by Rotherham Council.
"We will be working closely with colleagues from Sheffield Council to ensure their communities also have the opportunity to put forward their comments."
Electronic copies of the planning application will be available at libraries close to the Waverley site at Aston and Brinsworth and the mobile library operating in the area. They will also be on show in Woodhouse and Darnall.
A paper copy of the application is available to view at the Customer Service Centre, Civic Buildings, Walker Place, Rotherham and on the council's website at www.rotherham.gov.uk
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