Changes made to address planning concerns for new Darfield estate
CHANGES to a planning application which could see 460 go up on fields in Darfield have been made, following consultations between planners and developers.
It is almost two years since plans first emerged for housing on agricultural fields near Strawbridge’s garden centre and an update on the planning application is now back out for public consultation.
That ends in late April and it is expected the application will finally be decided by councillors sitting on the planning board.
Changes made include re-shaping car parking facilities on part of the site, with ant-flooding arrangements also revisited and access arrangements for pedestrians and cyclists redrawn.
The proposals are hybrid plans, which - if approved - would see 260 homes constructed on part of the site, with most of those three bedroomed, with some smaller and larger houses alongside, and 12 flats.
For part of the site, only ‘outline’ permission - which confirms the right to develop the land - is being sought, with an expectation 200 further homes could go there.
Detailed plans would have to be agreed later, cover the site layout and house designs.
The first phase would be developed by Keepmoat and the new proposals address concerns about how car parking was designed.
A letter to planners states the scheme has seen “some significant changes” and that “we do now feel like the scheme has gone as far as it can do in respect of the car parking.
“Any further change would result in significant loss of dwellings which we would assume the authority would not wish to see.”
The Environment Agency had raised concerns about potential for flooding, should the site be developed and the position of a basin, to hold accumulated water, has been changed as a response to that.
An existing watercourse would also be improved, to help reduce flood risk.
It is anticipated residents on the site would need pedestrian and cycle access to the existing Darfield community and proposals have been altered to address concerns.
That would involve works to include widening some footpaths and installing lighting and signage, with a new refuge for those walking or cycling at one location near the Doncaster Road junction.