New homes for field site after green belt change

The site, off Winney Hill in Harthill, will take 24 new homes when a bungalow which occupies part of the site has been demolished, with an access road running at a right angle to the carriageway to provide access along the full depth of the site.

The design of the road will allow another portion of land, which is largely surrounded by houses, to be developed and councillors on Rotherham Council’s planning board were told the authority had already received “an indicative plan as to how that could be developed in future”.

Rotherham Council included the site as land allocated for housing in the borough’s Local Plan, a blueprint for jobs growth and housing development in the years ahead, opening the site up for housing where previously it had been protected as part of the green belt.

The plans were recommended for approval even though they do not meet a planning criteria of providing 55 square metres of public open space for each home on the site, with planners arguing that was not considered necessary because of the presence of other sites nearby.

In addition, it is now expected there will be play facilities within 400 metres of new homes, which is not the case with this development, but officials felt it would be unreasonable to insist that a playground was installed – and then managed – for such a small development, with similar facilities available elsewhere in the village.

Conditions on the development mean the 30 mph speed limit on Winney Hill will be extended, a traffic calming ‘gate’ will be installed with new street lamps also to be erected.

A contribution of around £80,000 will be made as part of a Community Infrastructure Levy to take account of the impact the new development will have on the area, with a portion of that going to the local parish council.