Amendments to plans do not fully address issues previously raised
Following on from my previous submission to Barnsley's planning department, amendments to the plans have now been submitted, including reducing the overall number of properties and changes to the layout of the site. These go some way to addressing the issues that local residents have raised, but there are still a significant number of concerns, which I address in my latest submission.
The issue at hand
Penistone and Stocksbridge, in common with many other constituencies, suffers from a lack of housing, and perhaps most importantly from a lack of affordable housing. Parents and grandparents in communities across the constituency are worried that the next generation will not be able to afford to stay local, and will instead have to leave our towns and villages and our wonderful communities.
Whilst it is always the case that we want to protect our green spaces there are times when the considered development of new homes on our green space is necessary.
I am clear that the best means to ensure local views are properly taken into account is through the development and adoption of a local plan - so I am reassured that the development at Wellhouse Lane forms part of the Barnsley Local Plan as adopted.
Earlier this month, May 2020, following consultation and feedback from constituents, I raised a number of local concerns about the development application known as Wellhouse Lane. In my submission, attached below, I note that the development site is earmarked for housing, 414 dwellings, in the local plan.
I was further pleased that 30% of the houses are to be affordable, however, whilst this land is referenced in the local plan, there are areas of divergence from that plan, whether explicitly or in expectation, and it is these areas that I paid particular attention to in my submission.
The local plan advises that the development will be expected to:
- be designed to provide an appropriate buffer around Westhorpe Works in accordance with HSE standards;
- provide appropriate off site road safety enhancements;
- ensure the wider characteristic landscape setting and the setting of the Penistone Conservation Area are protected and enhanced by the use of appropriate site layout and sympathetic design that reflects their setting, scaling, massing, details and materials;
- provide appropriate acoustic treatment to mitigate against road and railway noise
- evaluate the site’s importance as overwintering feeding habitat for golden plovers and provide mitigation or compensation habitat as appropriate.
A few of the concerns that I raised:
- the site is earmarked for 414 dwellings, the application for 459
- additional road safety considerations need to be introduced
- it is unclear whether research has been undertaken to ensure local needs are met
- the need for a 125m exclusion zone was identified but is not evidenced in the application
- the character of the proposed homes seems out of keeping with local property
The response from the Head of Planning and Building Control, attached below, received 18 May, reflected the concerns raised and advised that my comments would be fully considered and that I would be kept up-to-date.
