Plans to build 118 homes in Barnsley approved

Outline plans for 118 new homes in Birdwell have been rubber stamped by councillors today (April 13).
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The site, on land south of Hay Green Lane, was allocated for housing in the council’s local plan, and is currently home to a paddock and and disused allotments to the right of the site.

A public consultation was held in February 2020, and 46 objections to the plans were submitted.

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Residents have raised concerns about traffic along Hay Green Lane, road safety issues for youngsters attending the nearby Birdwell Primary School, lack of school and GP places, loss of view and house values, and a potential decrease in air quality.

The site.The site.
The site.

Developers Harworth Group has agreed to pay £688,000 in S106 money to mitigate the development, and build 10 houses for social rent and two rent to buy homes.

£688,000 will be given to Birdwell Primary, Hoyland Common Primary School,Hoyland Springwood Primary, St Helen’s Catholic Primary, West Meadows Primary School and Kirk Balk Academy.

The S106 agreement also sets aside £209,747 for public open space, £89,615 for sustainable transport and will provide a new zebra crossing, yellow lining and bollards at Junction of Sheffield Road and Hay Green Lane.

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Joel Gandhi, development planner for Harworth Group, who are also overseeing the Hoyland Masterplan site off the Dearne Valley Parkway told the meeting: “We’ve worked collaboratively with council officers, and the community to bring forward a new housing development.

Mr Ghandi added that Harworth had taken on board the public’s comments from the public consultation, to: develop a proposal that addresses the issues raised with extensive engagement with the local community and council officers on existing issues. In particular, the school drop off and pick-up times.”

Neighbouring resident Tony Casagrande submitted a letter of objection, which was read out during the virtual meeting of Barnsley Council’s planning regulatory board.

“118 properties will probably result in circa 250 extra vehicles from the developments, the width of Hay Green Lane will not cope with that amount of extra traffic, and will have a massive impact on road safety, to both vehicle users and pedestrians, especially young children who attend Birdwell Primary School.

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“Should there be traffic accidents, or even, god forbid fatalities, especially to young children from the school that are involved will have to live with the consequences of their actions, and allowing the introduction of far too much traffic.”

Councillor Wayne Johnson also raised concerns about the safety of the junction of Sheffield Road, outside Birdwell Primary School.

Councillor Johnson told the meeting: “The additional impact of the cars on that particular junction – I don’t think the measures proposed are adequate to deal with what could be happening. I have no objections to the plan, but I feel there are issues around that area that causes concern.

Joe Jenkinson, head of planning, however, said: “It’s not for this planning application to remedy any long standing issues – it’s about not making matters worse.

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“The thing that is really important is the upgrade of the bridleway and where that will link Birdwell to Hoyland . It’s quite difficult at the minute on foot, to access Birdwell from Hoyland and vice versa.

“The package measures that the scheme proposes actually probably go above and beyond.”

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