Plans for 76 affordable homes next to Sheffield Parkway set for green light

Strata Homes and Great Places Housing Group have applied to build two and three-storey apartment blocks and terrace homes on land off Blue Mans Way, Catcliffe.

The Sheffield Parkway is to the north of the site, and to the south is Morrisons and a Barratt Housing estate which is under construction.

An application was submitted for 64 homes on the site in 2014, which was refused in 2016, but approved at appeal in 2017.

However, the permission has now expired, hence a new application is being considered.

If permission is granted, the new one to four bedroomed homes will be available for shared ownership and rent.

Developers would also have to pay RMBC £38,000 towards sustainable transport measures and £4,500 toward a traffic regulation order for to a 20 mph limit on the estate roads.

Planning documents state that the development will: “Provide a modern and high-quality residential development on an existing housing allocation that will meet the need for additional homes within Catcliffe and the wider Rotherham Borough, off-set the development and create a green buffer between the residential properties and the Sheffield Parkway, and create a development which maximises natural surveillance and reduces the potential for crime and anti-social behaviour.”

However, the council has received 40 objections from nearby residents, and objections from Catcliffe Parish Council, the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, the Rotherham Local Access Forum, and Brinsworth Councillor Carter.

The Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife state that there are hedgehogs and bird on the site, and that the on site pond should be “retained or replaced andsubject to on-going management.”

Residents have objected on the grounds of loss of woodland, increase in traffic and pollution, and additional crime.

Councillor Carter said: “There is a strength of feeling from local residents regarding the proposed development as demonstrated by the comments submitted.

“This development would involve significant traffic on residential roads, whichcould impact on local residents.

“Careful consideration and planning conditions need to be put in place so that this can be mitigated on residential streets such as Blue Mans Way, where numerous cars need to park on this road to be close to their property.

“Additionally, residents are rightly worried about the impact this could have onthe potential for flooding, a real risk in Catcliffe. Any plans need to includesignificant mitigation for this to ensure residents of the whole village feel safe.”

The proposal is recommended for approval at RMBC’s planning board meeting on July 1.