Plans to build 41 homes in Doncaster village approved with conditions

Ongo Developments has been successful in their bid to build 41 properties between Broadway and Broadwater Drive in Dunscroft.

All homes will come under the management of a housing association once completed.

The plan also includes a new access road from Broadwater Drive and extending the highway off Broadlands Close.

A new pumping station for foul and surface water is also proposed along with tree removal and replacement and a new path to playing fields at the north of the site.

Objectors speaking at the meeting raised concerns around the time between the homes being built and the pumping station being implemented.

A condition has been put in place by councillors that all trees retained on site should fall under British Standard 5837 which gives them extra protection.

Planning officers recommended councillors approve the development provided the applicant pays around £43,000 in a Section 106 agreement which would be spent creating an offsite habitat creation/restoration project.

The plot would be split into two sections with the narrowest part linking both schemes with a footpath.

Doncaster Council owns the land which is sandwiched between two residential streets.

Documents show they have struggled to ‘effectively develop’ the site for affordable housing in the past but Ongo Homes have approached the council directly in relation to the plot.

The council received 12 formal objections to the proposal. Residents cited reasons for objection such as impact on natural wildlife habitat, loss of trees, loss of green space, loss of privacy and an increased pressure on local services.

Hatfield Parish Council, who was consulted but cannot have any influence in terms of a decision, said it was an ‘over intensive development’ of the site.

They also said the footpath to the Miners Welfare field should be sealed off.

DMBC tree and open space officers have raised concerns around the development.

Planning officers have noted that many of the proposed properties fall under the nationally described space standard (NDSS). The developer has looked into increasing floor space but said it would add £400,000 to £500,000 in costs making the scheme ‘unviable’.

But the homes would be deemed acceptable in terms of floor space under the South Yorkshire Residential Design Guide.

DMBC planning officer Dave Richards, said: “The application is finely balanced as the development presents conflicting priorities for the council and, such is the case with many larger or more complex applications with on-site constraints, there would be some inevitable tension in achieving sustainable development.

“The social and economic benefits of the scheme are together considerable. The need for new affordable housing in the Borough and more widely, nationally, is undisputed and infill sites within existing residential areas are expected to take priority over greenfield sites.

“The benefits of allowing this development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh its adverse impacts. It would amount to sustainable development, bringing wider sustainability benefits to the community.”