A BITTER battle over plans to build more than 1,500 homes along the M1 corridor is set to end next week - after Barnsley Council’s planning bosses earmarked what is the town’s largest-ever development for approval.

Known as MU1, the 122-hectare site - which currently separates Higham, Gawber, Redbrook, Pogmoor and Barugh Green - has been at the centre of a decade-long row over its suitability to cope with such an amount of houses, warehouses and a school.

However, the Chronicle can reveal that an ‘extraordinary’ planning board meeting has been called for Wednesday at Barnsley Town Hall in which MU1’s future will be decided by councillors.

According to a report, bosses have recommended the scheme - which totals 1,560 homes - for approval.

The meeting will hear about applicant Strata Sterling Barnsley West’s plan to deliver the site in phases, the first being a 216-home development before others arrive in the coming years.

A planning report said: “It is the largest site in the council’s local plan, allocated predominantly for residential and employment uses.

“New roundabouts have recently been constructed to serve the development.

“The proposal has been widely publicised and consulted upon with a range of statutory and non-statutory consultees and there are no material planning objections outstanding.

“Historically the area has been subject to opencast mining in four areas which were restored and handed back to agriculture in the 1950s.

“The application’s submission file includes a vast number of documents, with over 500 documents available to view on the planning explorer website.

“It is recognised that the local residents may consider this to be excessive and unreasonable, however given the size and complexity of the proposed development, the documents submitted are required to enable the local planning authority to undertake a full assessment.

“The delivery of up to 1,560 new homes represents a significant contribution to the delivery of housing for the local plan period to 2033.

“The 216 dwellings for phase one, which are being considered in full, will allow the development to be implemented without delay.

“Later phases will come forwards following reserved matters applications and can be tailored to housing requirements in due course, subject to publicity and consultations.

“Overall, the delivery of 1,560 new homes carries substantial weight in favour of the proposal.”

A wrangle over Section 106 cash - which is set aside by developers for a loss of amenity - appears to have been resolved after the applicant initially deemed the council’s initial ask of more than £20m unviable.

As well as this, objections submitted by the Coal Authority and National Highways have been retracted.

This large-scale project will take 15 years to complete and, should the plans be approved by councillors, Strata Sterling Barnsley West aim to start work ‘as soon as possible’, bosses behind the project told the Chronicle.

Its chairman, Sir Bob Murray, added: “Following our success at Capitol Park, Dodworth, our plans for Barnsley West are some of the most exciting yet.

“This will create and support thousands of new, high-quality jobs in the town as well as delivering around £1bn for the local economy.

“This is a defining moment for Barnsley - we’re proud to play our part in building a positive and prosperous future for the town and local residents.

“Once we have received all permissions, we are able and excited to start building Barnsley West imminently, fulfilling on our promise to deliver opportunity and investment for Barnsley.”

A spokesperson from Keep It Green, the campaign group which set up in 2014 to oppose the plan, told the Chronicle that their long-held concerns remain.

“We became aware of the extraordinary planning board meeting to discuss the application,” they said.

“We have consistently expressed concerns about MU1 throughout the local plan’s consultation, the examination in public and the masterplan for the whole site, together with regular newsletters to the local community.

“These concerns remain, including the length of time since the deadline for consultation comments, the lack of subsequent consultation with the local community despite the applicant submitting additional and updated documents since that that date, together with the late addition of a further letter about the viability of the scheme.

“Our prime concern was, and still is, the loss of a large area of green belt, together with the resultant coalescence of Pogmoor, Higham, Barugh Green, Redbrook and Gawber.

“Members’ serious misgivings about the proposals remain - it’s still viewed as an abomination.”