MAJOR changes to the road network ahead of a potential 1,500-home development’s arrival in the next decade are set to come into force - after work to create a new link road through the ex-green belt site picked up pace.
Referred to as site MU1, which separates communities such as Barugh Green, Higham and Pogmoor, is is the subject of plans to build homes, a new primary school, warehouses for business use, a series of roads and two roundabouts which will connect both ends of the site.
It is the largest swathe in Barnsley Council’s so-called local plan - a blueprint which outlines future housing and business areas in the borough for the next ten years - at 122 hectares and has long been sought for development by a consortium known as Sterling Strata Barnsley West.
The new roundabouts - which received planning permission from the council in November 2020 - are being created off Barugh Green Road and Higham Common Road.
Blighted by delays due to concerns over ground stability given its ex-mining past - which have now been rescinded - the council took the pre-emptive decision to introduce a raft of road safety measures ahead of the road’s planned opening next spring.
The Chronicle can reveal a 30mph limit has been approved for the A635 Barugh Green Road as well as a traffic regulation order (TRO) which prohibits waiting on Higham Common Road, Hermit Lane and the as-yet-unnamed new road.
A council report said: “The project is part of the mixed-use MU1 development which is intended to accommodate a significant proportion of new housing, employment land and education facilities in Barnsley.
“The development of MU1 is centred on a new strategic link road, the ‘Claycliffe Link Road’, which will form a spine road through the mixed-use site and provide a key route from M1 junction 37 up to A635 Barugh Green Road, providing a north-western gateway into Barnsley.
“Barugh Green Road operates with a current speed limit of 40mph in the vicinity of the proposed roundabout; the intention is that the future new link road would operate with a speed limit of 30mph.
“Local ward members, the emergency services and SYMCA were consulted in February and no objections were received.
“For this reason, the proposed TRO has been deemed suitable to progress to the next stage of the TRO process and is now subject to public consultation.
“The new roundabouts are pre-emptive to allow for future access and development of land further east, north, and south of the new roundabout.
“They will provide access for adjacent residences, two new access roads for future development, as well as the continuation of Higham Common Road.”
The council received £10.63m for the highways scheme - which forms the link road and associated alterations - from the Local Government Fund (LGF).
It’s the biggest change to Barnsley’s 750-mile road network since the council announced its plan to create a new one-way gyratory in the nearby Dodworth ward.
A council report added: “The primary role of this development is to provide access to the MU1 site.
“The proposal comprises a five-arm roundabout on Higham Common Road, which provides access to the MU1 site together with an arm dedicated to the properties west of Higham Common Road.
“The roundabout schemes, together with the provision of the link road, will lead to traffic reassignment when the link road is operational.
“For residents in the local area this will lead to a welcomed reduction in HGV movement through Higham in the long run.”
Barnsley Council’s planning department had outlined an end-of-June date for a decision on the houses and employment scheme, but last month’s meeting was cancelled and a revised decision date has not been revealed.
A spokesperson from the developer said: “As the development of Barnsley West progresses there will be a number of social, economic and environmental benefits.
“Barnsley has a growing need for housing and employment space - this will play an important role in realising that requirement over the next 15 years.
“Once the site is fully developed, it will contribute to creating a new sustainable community, combining high-quality new homes including affordable housing, with market-facing employment development, new jobs, community facilities including a primary school and large areas of open green space, available to both existing and new members of the community.”
