PLANS to build almost 250 homes in Royston - on land where numerous applications for similar schemes have been mooted - have officially been submitted to Barnsley Council’s planning board.
The application, submitted by applicant Homes by Honey, seeks to build a total of 247 properties on Lee Lane.
Plans to build 241 properties on the same land were submitted in 2022 but were subsequently withdrawn, while in 2019 an appeal was refused to erect 250 properties at the site.
Of the 247 on the current application, 62 will have two bedrooms, 111 will have three, 64 will have four and ten will have five bedrooms.
A report states: “The site comprises two open fields, which is bound by Lee Lane (B6428) to the north and field boundaries to the east, south and west.
“The field boundaries are defined by mature trees and established hedgerows.
“Access to the site is currently via an agricultural entrance from Lee Lane at the north western boundary.
“The site is located entirely within flood zone one on the Environment Agency map, which means that the site has a less than a one in 1,000 annual probability of flooding.
“The settlement is considered to be sustainable location for development, with access to local services and amenities by means other than private vehicle.
“Furthermore, the Royston masterplan framework sets out how new local services, including a local shop, primary school and informal recreational park will be delivered as part of the wider allocation, alongside new bus infrastructure to provide a service to new dwellings.”
Public consultation has now started for the plans, with residents able to have their say until April 20.
Councillors Pauline McCarthy and Caroline Makinson have urged locals to submit their views.
In a joint statement, they told the Chronicle: “The planning application for land to the south of Lee Lane has now been submitted and is not unexpected as it forms part of a mixed use allocation within Barnsley’s adopted local plan, where the principle of residential development is considered acceptable.
“The site is also covered by the Royston masterplan framework, which sets out a coordinated vision for how the wider area should come forward.
“As part of its assessment, the local planning authority will carefully review the proposal to ensure it accords with the requirements and expectations of that framework.
“At this early stage, the council has begun the formal publicity process, which includes consultation with key technical specialists such as highways, transportation, ecology, education, and drainage teams.
“As your local councillors we would encourage interested members of the public to view the submitted plans and provide comments as part of the consultation period.”
They added that they broadly support the plans, but believe more needs to be done in relation to public transport in the area.
“Having looked at the housing types it’s pleasing to see that there is a good mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom properties.
“It has good links to the active travel route and other public footpaths which is a bonus for walkers and cyclists alike.
“We have submitted initial views that we whilst we broadly support this application, we have long held views that public transport could be improved for this side of Royston.
“This application gives that view more weight, with the increase of housing it would be beneficial to encourage people to use public transport with good network connections.
“A scheduled service that goes into Barnsley via Wakefield Road would be a good circular route improvement and we would look forward to working with partners to make that happen.”
