Former haulage yard to be redeveloped for housing in Rotherham suburb

Planners at Rotherham Council agreed without comment to proposals to put nine four bedroomed homes on a site surrounded by existing houses off Moor Lane South in Ravenfield, using land already earmarked for housing development under the authority’s Local Plan.

Councillors were told by planning officials there were no reasons to reject the proposals, which are seen as being more in keeping with the area than having the site in commercial use.

It has been little used since the 1990s when owners F W Whitelock and Sons moved most of their business to Hellaby Industrial Estate, though a licence still exists to operate lorries from the site.

Owner Geoffrey Whitelock said the company had been “virtually hounded out” by complaints of early morning noise from lorry engines, though the site’s industrial use pre-dated the housing which now surrounds it.

He also told planners: “We have had a lot of disrespect from neighbours who seemed to think the land was free tip, mainly for garden rubbish.

“We have had people parking on the car park without seeking or receiving permission to do so.”

There were several complaints received by the council, including that a new access road into the site would take up part of a car park they currently use.

That was dismissed by officials, on the grounds they have no right to do so.

Other concerns about the development, including a loss of privacy, were also overruled on the grounds the layout of the site provides separation distances between properties which meet planning regulations.