This is where 450 new homes could be built in Penistone

The site, bounded by Halifax Road and Wellhouse Lane, was earmarked for housing by Barnsley Council in its Local Plan.

This means development of the site is now inevitable but it still has to pass through the formal planning process and Barratt’s consultation session was the start of that.

Planning consultant Paul Butler of Barratts, said: “One of the massive benefits is affordable housing. Everyone accepts there is a need for affordable housing in Penistone.

“To deliver them you have to release sites and there are impacts, like traffic.”

The firm told residents of the benefits the scheme will bring to the area, with 30 per cent of the homes being handed over as ‘affordable homes’ for rent or joint purchase agreements - answering a frequent criticism that then town is short of such accommodation with another 31 per cent made up of two and three bedroomed houses.

They will be sold on the regular market, but will be cheaper than the ‘executive’ style four bedroomed accommodations.

Under the proposals, £2.4m would be earnarked to build a new primary school and pay for extra places at Penistone Grammar School, with around £360,000 available for open spaces beyond those which feature as part of the development.

£325,000 will also be put aside for a public transport interchange, a long held ambition for Penistone.

The original proposal to include the site in the Local Plan met with resistance from residents concerned at the loss of Green Belt and the impact on the infrastructure, particularly roads.

Highway access was a major concern for some of those visiting the consultation session, but Barnsley Council has already effectively decided roads can cope with the extra vehicles the homes will generate by including the site in the Local Plan.

Barratts expect the extra spending from 450 new households to support 64 extra jobs in the local area, with the scheme also bringing millions of pounds to the council from the Government in bonuses for creating new homes as well as another £750,000 a year from council tax.