Six residential dwellings at Land West of Millstones, Oxspring, Penistone

What was proposed

The application proposed six homes, with landscaping and associated infrastructure, comprising two two-bedroom, two three-bedroom and two four-bedroom dwellings.

“Application refused and appeal dismissed 2020/1269 Development of a rural exception site including three affordable homes and two open market properties with landscaping and associated infrastructure Appeal dismissed 2014/0482 Erection of 4no. detached dwellings. Application refused and appeal dismissed B/00/0658 Residential Development - 4 dwellings (Outline) Application refused and appeal dismissed B/99/1344 Erection of four detached dwellings (Outline).”

Officer report

The site

The 0.3-hectare grassed site lies on Oxspring’s edge beside housing, woodland and the River Don, with an existing gated access from Millstones.

“The site is located on the edge of Oxspring village. It is bound to the east by the Millstones housing development which dates back to the mid 1990s.”

“The site is 0.3ha and is roughly square in shape and is grassed. To the north is a bank of ancient woodland, to the west is an area of woodland planted on a landscaped mound and to the south is the tree lined Don river. The houses to the east overlook the site. The site has an existing access from Millstones which is gated off.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Six similar residential applications on the Green Belt site had previously been refused or dismissed at appeal over thirty years.

“The application site is Green Belt and there is a history of six similar applications being refused and/or dismissed at appeal over a thirty year period.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the site grey belt, the location sustainable and the proposal acceptable under Green Belt policy, with identified harms outweighed by other considerations.

“The site is on the edge of Oxspring village but within the Green Belt. National and local Green Belt policy indicates that new buildings are inappropriate development and should not be approved unless one of the specified exceptions applies, or very special circumstances are demonstrated that clearly outweigh the Green Belt and other harm. One of the specified exceptions is development that would utilise grey belt land, subject to criteria set out in the NPPF.”

“Having established that the site is grey belt, it is necessary to consider whether the development would fundamentally undermine the purposes (taken together) of the remaining Green Belt across the area of the plan. The grey belt assessment has considered purposes a, b and d of the Green Belt. Purpose c is ‘to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment’.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Most consultees raised no objection subject to conditions, while Oxspring Parish Council strongly objected over Green Belt, flooding, landscape, ecology and previous decisions.

“Oxspring Parish Council – strongly object to this application for a number of reasons including previous refusals on the site which have been refused and dismissed at appeal for reasons including lack of viability; failed flood risk sequential assessment; inappropriate and harmful development in the green belt, harm to an area of Borough Landscape Value; loss of trees on the riverbank and harm to site’s character and wider setting; rejection of site as an…”

Officer report

What residents said

Eleven representations raised concerns about Green Belt release, ecology, wildlife, character, precedent, privacy, flooding, drainage and traffic.

“- Object to development of green belt, which is an important buffer between Millstones and the Green Belt running along the Don to Penistone - Object to impact on ecology, wildlife/habitat and vegetation on the riverbank, impact on mature woodland and allegations about the use of chemicals to degrade the meadow. - The submitted tree report is over two years old and cannot be an accurate representation of the current on-site conditions.”

“- The site contributes to openness and has never been tipped on (aerial photos and ordnance survey extract submitted to demonstrate) - Housing built on grey belt should provide green space, but this application removes all green space and removed biodiversity benefits of the land.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An applicant’s representative spoke in favour of the officer recommendation, and an objector spoke against it.

The committee’s decision

The committee granted planning permission in accordance with the officer recommendation, subject to an additional condition requiring a construction method statement.

“The Head of Planning and Building Control submitted a report on Planning Application 2025/0284 Development of six residential dwellings with landscape and associated infrastructure, Land West of Millstones, Oxspring, Penistone, S36 8WF).”

“RESOLVED that the application be granted in accordance with the Officer recommendation subject to an additional condition in relation to the production of a construction method statement.”

Minutes