Construction begins on £8.9 million affordable housing development in Dinnington

A sod-cutting was carried out at the site just off Swinston Hill Road, where the new estate will comprise 46 new homes, 26 of which will be available for affordable rent and the other 20 for shared ownership.

All properties were constructed by Hoober Urban Partnerships and will be managed by social housing provider WDH.

A derelict house will also be demolished to give the development, which is due to be completed in winter 2024, new road access.

Ian Penn, service director for development at WDH, said: “It’s our vision to create confident and sustainable communities.

“This new housing scheme will create much needed affordable homes in Dinnington and be of real benefit to the local community.”

Director of Hoober Urban Partnerships, David Wroe, added: “We are delighted to commence work on a second site with WDH, bringing affordable homes to Dinnington.

“This type of housing is more important than ever, and we look forward to delivering another high-quality scheme together.”

RMBC’s assistant director for housing, James Clark, said: “The council is committed to building new homes for local people living in Rotherham. We are also pleased to be working with WDH and Hoober Urban Partnerships during this project to provide affordable, modern housing.”

When the plans were approved in March, the development was described as “100 per cent affordable housing”.

Presenting officer Lisa Brooks said the land was in a state of “disrepair” and the front garden was “overgrown” and that the two-storey, redbrick property on the site was boarded up.

A previous proposal included allocating only one in four properties as affordable housing but the whole scheme will now come under that category.

There were six letters of objection, with the main issue being the possibility of the homes overlooking the gardens of the neighbouring properties but Ms Brooks said the amended proposal included new trees and hedge-planting along the access road.

She said: “We’re satisfied that the amendment will keep the overlooking to the minimum.”

As part of a previously-approved Section 106 agreement, £23,000 will be contributed towards sustainable travel measures, £2,369 for improvement to the existing bus stop, £750 to fund a new gate and £16,591.74 allocated to a new, equipped play area.