Sites earmarked for 85 new council and housing association homes

Land at Netherfield Court in Eastwood, Littlemoor Avenue in Wales, Arbour Drive in Thurcroft and Christchurch Road in Hoober would all be set aside for council or HA housing under the plans.

Land at Mill Lane South Anston, Elm Tree Lane Maltby and Wadsworth Road Bramley would also be designated for residential development by a HA, or sold.

The proposals are due to go before cabinet members on March 22.

A report contained within the plans reads: “Initial assessments of their suitability for residential development have been carried out as part of the shortlisting process, and the detailed viability work will be undertaken once approved.

“There are around 6,800 applicants on the waiting list for council housing in Rotherham.

These households are likely to be in homes unsuitable for their needs in some way, such as homes which are too small, affected by issues such as damp and disrepair, or inappropriate for someone who is elderly or has a disability.

“The council’s ambitious housing growth plan is critical to supporting these families into high quality and affordable accommodation.”

Councillor Dominic Beck, cabinet member for housing told a meeting of the overview and scrutiny management committee on Wednesday, March 17: “Part of this is around garage sites.

“It‘s a big part of our ambitious approach to deliver new council housing, and where we can’t deliver council housing in the traditional way, we will hope to work with housing associations, so we’re at least delivering more social housing.”

Cllr Beck added that a review was being undertaken on more than 300 garage sites in the borough.

Jane Davies, head of strategic housing and development, added: “The majority of the sites proposed in the report are garage and small sites, and the two sites which aren’t are the Eastwood site, Netherfield Court and York Road, where we’re looking to apply for grant funding to bring forward council housing on those two sites, and overall we’re looking to bring forward 85 homes on the sites listed.

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