Plans for 230 homes on farmland in Yorkshire set for approval despite dozens of objections
Plans for 230 homes on land are set to be decided, with Barnsley Council officers recommending that they be approved despite opposition from residents.
Developer Crest Nicholson has applied for outline planning permission for up to 230 homes on 7.4 hectares of farmland south of Pit Lane in Wombwell.
The application is for access only at this stage, meaning the layout, appearance, landscaping and scale of the homes would be decided later through a separate reserved matters application.
Access to the proposed housing development would be taken from Pit Lane, with plans showing the road being realigned to form a new priority junction into the site.
Although the site is classified as safeguarded land in BMBC’s local plan, planning officers say the authority cannot currently show it has enough land approved for housing, which means national planning rules weigh in favour of granting permission.
During consultation, 38 representations were received from members of the public, along with formal objections from ward councillors. Concerns raised included the loss of safeguarded land, increased traffic and highway safety, pedestrian safety, flood risk, impacts on wildlife, pressure on local infrastructure and the effect on neighbouring residents.
In response, planning officers say the development would not result in unacceptable harm in these areas, provided a range of conditions and legal obligations are secured. Highways officers have raised no objection, subject to changes to the Pit Lane access, off-site junction improvements and a proposed reduction in the speed limit, which would require a separate legal process.
If approved, the development would be subject to a Section 106 legal agreement requiring the developer to provide 10 per cent affordable housing, public open space, almost £1 million towards education provision, more than £170,000 for sustainable travel improvements and a contribution towards long-term biodiversity monitoring.
Officers conclude that while the proposal conflicts with local policy on safeguarded land, the council’s housing land supply position means significant weight must be given to the delivery of new homes. They say the identified harms do not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, and that the scheme represents a sustainable form of development.
The application will be considered by Barnsley Council’s Planning Regulatory Board during its next meeting on February 24, with officers recommending that outline planning permission be granted subject to conditions and the completion of a legal agreement.