Up to 1,200 homes at Land South Of Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster

What was proposed

Outline permission was sought for up to 1,200 homes, community and co-working facilities, possible school land, open space, active travel routes and drainage.

“Proposal Description: Outline planning application (with all matters reserved except external vehicular highway access) for residential development (Use Class C3), provision of co-working hubs, with land allocated for a single form entry primary school (if required), including the demolition of Warren House Farm and the provision of drainage (including SUDS), public open space with children's play space, enhancements to existing footpaths/tracks, new footpaths and cycleways…”

“Proposal Description: The proposal seeks outline planning permission with all matters reserved except for access for residential development (Use Class C3), provision of co-working hubs, with land allocated for a single form entry primary school (if required), including the demolition of Warren House Farm and the provision of drainage (including SUDS), public open space with children's play space, enhancements to existing footpaths/tracks, new footpaths and cycleways…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 71.69-hectare agricultural site has hedgerows, drainage ditches, ponds, woodland and a farm, with roads, bus stops and nearby airport-related development.

“Site and Surroundings: The application site is located to the south east of Doncaster, situated close to the settlements of Hayfield Green, Blaxton, Branton, Auckley, Rossington and Finningley. The application site comprises of agricultural fields bordered by mature hedgerows and land drainage ditches and is allocated under DSA02 and DSA03 within the Local Plan.”

“The bus routes utilising these stops provide services to Doncaster, Auckley, Worksop, Retford and Gainsborough. The site is bound by fields to the eastern boundary (comprising of Local Plan allocation EMP05), with Hurst Lane forming the western boundary. The Great North Road extends along the site’s southern boundary, a small section of this boundary also fronts on to High Common Lane.”

Officer report

Planning history

An earlier related application for multi-tenure and specialist housing, community buildings, open space, cycleways and drainage remained pending determination.

“Relevant Planning History 3.1 25/00137/OUTA - (including affordable housing, later living, retirement accommodation, assisted living, build to rent and other complimentary/multi- tenure/specialist housing) with land identified for a single form entry primary school (if required), including the demolition of Warren House Farm and the provision of community buildings (Use Classes E, F1 (a-g), F2 (a-d), sui generis uses comprising drinking establishments with expanded food…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended permission because the site is allocated for housing and impacts could be mitigated through conditions and a legal agreement.

“Recommendation Grant planning permission subject to the imposition of planning conditions and s106 legal agreement…”

“The application seeks outline planning permission with all matters reserved except access for the erection of up to 1200 dwellings on sites allocated and identified for housing in the Doncaster Local Plan – Site Allocation Refs: DSA02 and DSA03”

Officer report

Public views

One representation said the application was premature because housing should follow significant airport job creation and the proposal appeared housing-led.

“The NEAP, most LEAPS and some LAPs have surrounding open space which is positive, giving a greater option for more creative play options, in line with the Technical and Developer Requirements SPD. There appears in places to be a lack of overlooking of the open space in the indicative masterplan, specifically, the northernmost LEAP, the southernmost LAP, the south-eastern LAP.”

“The main point raised is that the application is considered to be premature, on the basis that the local plan shows the development of the site linked with expansion and growth of DSA. Housing would only be approved if significant numbers of jobs were created as part of the development of the airport. It is therefore considered that the proposals, rather than being airport led, are seen as speculative housing led development. 6.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant, agent and highways consultant spoke in support for up to five minutes and answered members’ questions.

The committee vote

Councillors voted five in favour, none against and one abstention on the proposal to grant permission.

“A proposal was made to Grant planning permission subject to the imposition of planning conditions and s106 legal agreement.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was granted subject to conditions, a Section 106 agreement, updated education contributions and protection of school land for 12 years.

“Decision: Planning Permission Granted as per officer recommendation subject to the completion of an agreement under Section 106 in relation to the following matters and with amendment to paragraph 4.1, updating the Section 106 Heads of Terms to safeguard the school land shown on the Illustrative Masterplan for a period of 12 years:-”

“Onsite Affordable Housing • £233,926 Travel Plan Bond • A contribution of £3,197,519.7 towards primary school places, and a • contribution of £5,306,605.10 towards secondary school places, resulting in a • total education contribution of £8,505,124.80 • Bus Service Improvements (Bus Stop Facilities - £200,432, Bus Service • Improvements - £1.4m) • £532,168.38 towards junction improvements at Junction 3 of the M18 • Biodiversity Net Gain monitoring £28,077.89 • Obligation…”

Minutes