Plans revealed to build more than 100 homes on former Rotherham sports ground

Plans for 116 homes at The Pitches at Stag in Broom are recommended for approval at Rotherham Council’s planning board meeting on March 18.

If approved, Newett Homes will demolish a pair of semi detached houses adjacent to the site entrance on Wickersley Road.

The 3.8 hectare site was previously been used for bowls, football, tennis cricket, and hockey, but has not been used for this purpose in the last seven years.

The site is made up of a cricket pitch, football pitch, bowling green, tennis court and a sports club.

A business case to the planning board states: “The site has not been used for sporting purposes for over seven years.

“In fact, some of the amenities within the sports ground have not beenused for over twenty-five years and the whole site is now overgrown and in a state of disrepair.

“The cricket square has not been used for at least 14 years; since 2006. The crown bowls green has not been used since 1991, according to the former site manager, Ken Walton.

The developers have offered £760,000 to mitigate the loss of the amenity, including £295,000 for a replacement cricket pitch and field, £365,000 for a new football pitch and changing room, £40,000 for a new bowling facility and £30,000 for tennis provision.

They would also provide 29 affordable homes for affordable rent and shared ownership, as well as S106 contributions of £237,604 for secondary education, a play area, a new playing pitch strategy and £500 per dwelling for sustainable transport.

A public consultation event took place in January 2019, which was attended by 100 people.

A number of concerns were raised, including traffic congestion on Wickersley Road, loss of green space, loss of trees and wildlife, pressure on infrastructure, and air pollution.

One respondent stated they did not support any affordable housing, and some respondents had concerns regarding the location of the affordable housing in relation to their own properties.

More than 150 written objections have been received to the plans, including loss of green spaces leading to higher obesity rates, other housing developments nearby on Herringthorpe playing fields and Broom Valley, as well as traffic and infrastructure concerns.

One objector refuted the claim that the the site has not been used for sporting activity, as “gates at the bottom of the surrounding gardens have been used to access the site for decades.”

Sport England initially objected to the scheme, but agreed to to it with the S106 contributions in place.

Five people have requested to speak at the meeting, which will be held virtually.