Opposed estate plan set for approval

The planning application is seeking approval for the principle of developing 14 hectares of agricultural land off Dewsbury Road, to the west of the city centre and near junction 40 of the M1.

It is proposed that the site should become an industrial estate, with nine hectares for as many as 285 homes.

The application is a resubmission of an identical proposal refused in March on the grounds that access to the site would be too risky for vehicles and pedestrians.

An appeal has been submitted against this refusal and is due to be considered at a public inquiry due to start on August 23.

Several councillors are now pointing out that they can see nothing in the new proposals that alleviates the reason for refusal the last time.

Councillor Margaret Isherwood has objected to the plans, saying the access to the site would not be able to cope with traffic.

Wakefield Civic Society has objected on the grounds of the loss of greenfield space, the impact on the road network and the potential of flooding.

Altogether, more than 160 people have filed objections.

But planning officers are recommending that the outline plans are granted.

A report to be discussed by the council’s planning committee, which meets tomorrow, says that the highways network is capable of accommodating the increased traffic if improvements are made to junction 40 and other local junctions.

The report concludes: “The application would establish the principle of mixed commercial/residential development on site. Whilst the land is presently allocated for other purposes it is not considered that this forms a barrier to consent being granted given the need for housing and oversupply of industrial land.”