Residents call for rejection of Rose Hill estate in 7 hour extraordinary meeting

On Tuesday (6 January) local residents and councillors attended a Planning Inspectorate meeting to protest plans to build 121 homes on biodiverse field Rose Hill Rise.

The application by Miller Homes was first rejected by Doncaster Council’s planning committee in March last year following extensive criticism by residents.

In November however, the committee approved the application after it was resubmitted with almost identical contents.

This week’s Planning Inspectorate meeting aimed to take evidence for Miller Homes’ appeal against the application’s first rejection in March.

Some 30 to 40 members of the public attended to oppose the appeal, alongside Bessacarr councillors Nick Allen and Majid Khan.

For over seven hours, attendees discussed elements of the plans including traffic concerns, construction impacts and trees and woodland on the site.

Coun Nick Allen said: “I was delighted to see so many local people at the Planning Inspectorate meeting. It was packed.

“As everyone knows, I have been against the sale of the land near Rose Hill since we had the ‘disposals’ meeting years ago. The Council should never have put it up for sale in the first place.

“It has been one farce after another and has already cost taxpayers a small fortune. Heavy equipment will not get down The Avenue and the work will cause traffic blockages on Cantley Lane and Bawtry Road. It is an accident waiting to happen.

“I trust the Inspector took all of this into account yesterday. I’ve been an elected councillor in Bessacarr since 2015 and this issue has really galvanised local people.

“It’s been great supporting the Rose Hill Residents Association and I will continue to do so. I have backed them all the way from the start.”

The associated planning inspector is expected to announce a decision on the appeal in March.

At the same time, Bessacarr resident Diana Hoyle has launched a crowdfunder to take legal action against the plans.

Ms Hoyle will launch a case against Doncaster Council, claiming that it did not follow its Local Plan when approving the application.