Plans for 46 homes in Wickersley set to be approved

A report to the board recommends that the development, on land off Second Lane, be approved, subject to the developer agreeing to contribute funds towards transport and education, and provide affordable housing.

Officers recommend that the plans be approved subject to developers providing 25 per cent on site affordable housing, £500 per dwelling towards sustainable transport measures, £107,142 towards education, and establish a management company to maintain green spaces included in the plans.

Developers Harron Homes hope to build five two bed homes, seven three bed homes, 24 four bed homes, 10 five bed homes, on the site as well as a fitness area.

The proposal includes the provision of 25 per cent affordable housing units,which equates to 12 dwellings. Half of the affordable homes are expected to be for social/affordable rent, and half shared ownership.

The majority of the homes will be detached, with the affordable units being semi-detached and terrace properties.

The council received 73 letters of objection to the development, which outlined worries over increased traffic, lack of public transport, loss of trees and hedgerows, impact on wildlife and pressure on infrastructure.

Wickersley Parish Council also submitted a petition with 41 signatures, objecting on a range of grounds including overcapacity of schools and medical practices.

The ‘WRONG’ Campaign (Wickersley, Rotherham’s Own Natural Greenbelt) submitted a letter of objection to the original and amended schemes, and have also instructed an environmental lawyer and ecological and drainage consultants who have submitted comments on their behalf.

The comments raised issues of lack of pedestrian access on Second Lane, lack of emergency vehicle access, the scale of the development, loss of privacy, and the proposed nearby HS2 construction depot will increase traffic, and should be taken into consideration when assessing the application.

The application was allocated as green belt within the former Unitary Development Plan, however the local plan sites and policies document which was adopted in June 2018 removed the site from the green belt and re-allocated it for residential use.

A report from planning officers to planning board members states: "The site has now been allocated for residential use as part of the adopted Local Plan and as such the principle of residential development is acceptable.

"All proposed properties are two storeys in height, and in this respect the scale of the dwellings is considered to be appropriate and similar to the scale of some of the differing house types surrounding the site which include a majority of detached properties.

"It is noted that there are some single storey dwellings adjoining the site on Morthen Road, however First Lane, Morthen Road and Newhall Avenuealso consist of many two storey properties.

"The proposed site is considered suitable for the number of traffic movements proposed by the development.

"The traffic impacts of the site, also taken cumulatively with the proposed site across Second Lane, are considered to be acceptable."

A decision is expected from the planning regulatory board at their virtual meeting on June 4, at 9am.

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