17 dwellings at Land off Watermill Gardens, Penistone

What was proposed

The application sought permission for 17 homes with parking, drainage, landscaping and public open space.

“The application proposes the erection of 17 dwellings with associated parking, drainage, landscaping and areas of Public Open Space. The majority of the application site is allocated in the adopted Barnsley Local Plan (2019) as Housing Site HS70 Land to north of Barnsley Road, Penistone, with the proposed Public Open Space areas being allocated as Urban Fabric within the Local Plan…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site lies south of a grammar school and north of Watermill Gardens, with fields, homes, apartments and trees nearby.

“The site is set to the south of Penistone Grammar School and to the north of Watermill Gardens, a small residential development of larger detached properties which is accessed via Barnsley Road. The site is part of a Housing Allocation within the Local Plan (HS70) and Watermill Gardens consists of 11 stone built dwellings that are within the wider housing allocation.”

“The majority of the site is laid to grass with trees along the northern boundary of the site rising up to the Grammar School. At the entrance to the site are a number of soil mounds which consist of old building materials. There are no buildings on the site.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the site was allocated for housing and the identified harms could be addressed through conditions and planning obligations.

“Whilst it is acknowledged that there would be some benefits to having a footpath route through the site from the school to Barnsley Road, the agent and highways officer have identified a number of issues that are material planning considerations, such as impact upon residents, parking issues, layout issues, land gradients and highway safety.”

“MEMBERS RESOLVE TO GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS BELOW AND FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF AN AGREEMENT UNDER SECTION 106 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 IN RELATION TO THE FOLLOWING MATTERS AND THE HEAD OF PLANNING BE AUTHORISED TO ISSUE THE PLANNING PERMISSION UPON COMPLETION OF THE LEGAL AGREEMENT:”

Officer report

Responses from consultees

Highways, drainage, ecology, conservation, affordable housing, water, archaeology, trees and pollution officers raised no objections subject to conditions where applicable.

“Highways – No objections subject to conditions…”

“Drainage – No objections subject to conditions…”

Officer report

Views from residents

Two comments supported the homes, while 28 further comments raised concerns including traffic, parking, flooding, privacy, construction and local infrastructure.

“Disruption to local residents during construction • More overpriced housing • Impact on doctors, dentists, school places etc. • Impact on parking within Penistone • Proximity of new dwellings to boundaries and homes • Concerns regarding overlooking side windows reducing amenity and privacy • Windows contravene planning policy • Flooding/drainage issues • Overshadowing impacts • Use of private drive adjacent to garden, disturbance and impact upon amenity • Concerns…”

“Environmental Impact, air pollution • traffic management solutions should be proposed • Possible flooding and previous flooding issues • Disturbance from new dwellings/impact on privacy • Loss of green area and impact upon tourism • Too many new properties in the area • Traffic issues already during school pick up and drop off times • School parking issues on Watermill Gardens • Turning HGV’s have caused damage to signs/garden walls on Watermill Gardens, will site traffic…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The developer’s representative spoke in favour of approval, while another speaker spoke against the officer recommendation.

The committee vote

The committee resolved to grant the application in accordance with the officer recommendation, subject to a Section 106 Agreement.

“RESOLVED that the application be granted in accordance with the Officer recommendation subject to the signing of a Section 106 Agreement in relation to:”

“4 affordable homes as shown on the site layout • £58,500 affordable shortfall contribution • £31,712.07 Green Space Contribution • £112,000 Education Contribution • £17,000 Sustainable Travel Contribution…”

Minutes