Homes plan on farm in Yorkshire village set to be approved despite concerns

The full planning application relates to land at Pear Tree Farm on Church Street, and seeks permission for the erection of eight new homes, the conversion of two outbuildings into two further homes along with acess and landscaping works.

The scheme would involve the demolition of the existing bungalow and farmhouse on the site.

In a report to the council’s planning board, officers state that the development, which sits within the Brierley Conservation Area, had been amended after an earlier version recieved objections.

The original proposal had included demolishing all of the existing buildings, but planning officers raised concerns about the ‘harm this would introduce upon the appearance of the Brierley Conservation Area’. Plans were later revised to retain and convert outbuildings at the northern end of the site.

Officers state the amended scheme is now considered an ‘acceptable compromise’, and that a legal agreement will secure an £80,000 contribution towards education provision in the village, as well as biodiversity net gain.

A new access road will be formed off Church Street, serving the homes in a cul-de-sac arrangement.

The proposed housing mix includes detatched and terraced four-bedroom homes, along with two bedroom conversions created from the retained buildings.

Twenty-one objections raised a range of concerns including increased traffic, poor visibility on Church Street, pressure on school place, loss of open space, noise and parking.

Concerns were also raised by ward councillors over the proposed access arrangements and highway safety issues.

One letter was received in support of the scheme.

However, the council’s highways officer raised no objections, subject to a number of conditions, including a road safety audit.

Planning officers say the site is in a sustainable village location, resulting in a net increase of eight homes, which would contribute toward Barnsley’s housing supply.

The councils’ conservation officer, who had objected to an earlier version of the scheme, later withdrew the objections after amendments were made. Historic England also raised no objection to the amended plans.

Officers concluded that no ‘significant harm’ had been identified in terms of residential amenity, highways, trees, drainage, contamination or ecology, subject to planning conditions.

The seheme is recommended for approval at the next meeting of BMBC’s planning board on March 17.