RESIDENTS have less than a week to have their say on plans to build almost 120 new homes in Darton.

An application has been submitted to the council’s planning board for a total of 119 new properties to be built south of Bloomhouse Lane and east of Woolley Colliery Road.

Of the proposed homes, a report shows that 24 of those will be classed as ‘affordable’.

A report states: “The application seeks the erection of 119 dwellings and as such, the affordable homes requirement would be 24 homes.

“The proposals seek permission for a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes in a mix of detached, semi-detached and short terraces.

“In line with the pre-application response, the highest need for affordable housing in this market area is for two-to-three bedroom houses and one-bedroom flats.

“The site comprises an irregular shaped parcel of land encompassing two fields.

“It is bordered by Woolley Colliery Road to the west and south, by Bloomhouse Lane to the north and east.

“The proposed development is anticipated, when the targets contained in the accompanying Travel Plan are applied, to generate 54 two-way trips during the morning peak hour and 55 two-way trips during the evening peak hour.”

Concerns were raised when the plans were initially put to community consultation - and the applicant, Homes By Honey, say they have been taken into account when submitting the current plans.

The report added: “A leaflet was prepared and issued to 126 properties, outlining the intention to progress with an outline planning application.

“The leaflet contained the proposed plans and explained the intentions and reasons behind the development.

“Residents were encouraged to give feedback on the proposals by way of email or postal address.

“Throughout the consultation process there has been an intention to respond to consultation feedback in a meaningful way and, where practicable, provide information and address concerns.”

They have responded to concerns around highway safety and a lack of public services for residents.

“Significant concern was raised through the consultation event in respect of the impact on the local highway network,” the report added.

“The record of personal injury collisions occurring from road traffic collisions in the vicinity of the site has been assessed and it is concluded that there are no readily identifiable trends in the data.

“It has therefore been concluded that the development proposals will not have any detrimental impact on the operation of the network with regard to highway safety.”

The report added that there will be real benefits to the town, should the plans be approved.

It said: “Very significant weight should be afforded to the delivery of new market housing in the context of an ever growing historic shortfall within the borough since the start of the plan period.

“Furthermore, the provision of new market housing would contribute to addressing the shortfall in in five-year housing land supply.

“Likewise, the delivery of affordable housing in the context of the council’s housing shortfall should be afforded very significant weight.

“The proposed development brings significant social, economic and environmental benefits and very much falls within the definition of sustainable development.”

The public can have their say on plans until May 21.