PLANS to build almost 300 homes in Thurnscoe have been met with a strong letter of objection from local residents.

Avant Homes submitted plans to the council to build a total of 296 new properties to the west of Thurnscoe Bridge Lane.

Bosses behind the scheme say ten per cent of the houses will be classed as ‘affordable’, while a new play area and new jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project.

A report states: “The proposed scheme comprises a mix of house types, sizes and tenures to meet the needs of the local community.

“It will provide a mix of one to four-bed open market houses and one to three-bed affordable houses.

“All dwellings will meet the nationally described space standards.

“A total of 16 dwellings will meet the wheelchair user dwellings requirements and 123 will meet the accessible and adaptable dwellings requirements.

“Affordable housing plots are dispersed across the site and are not concentrated in one sole area.”

Access to the site is to be taken via a new right turn ghost island junction from Thurnscoe Bridge Lane to the east.

A refuge island is proposed to be provided to the south of the access, providing a crossing point to access the shared footway/ cycleway to the east of Thurnscoe Bridge Lane and towards the bus stop immediately opposite the site.

The applicants held a community engagement exercise prior to the application being submitted.

A total of 437 letters were sent to nearby residents, and eight responses were received - including a petition signed by 74 locals.

The key issues raised included the proposals leading to additional traffic and the chance of road traffic accidents increasing.

The report added: “A transport assessment has been prepared by TPS in support of the application that confirms that there are no accident trends that might be exacerbated by the addition of development related traffic.

“It also confirms that the local highway network has sufficient capacity to accommodate the predicted trip generation of the proposed development.”

Residents also complained about disruption during the construction phase and a loss of natural light.

The report said: “With regard to loss of natural light and overshadowing, the scheme has been carefully designed to consider the residential amenity of both existing and future residents. “Sufficient separation distances have been provided between the proposed dwellings along the site’s northern boundary and dwellings on Derry Grove to the north.

“The applicant recognises the importance of concerns raised regarding disruption during the construction phase and will satisfy any conditions imposed by the local planning authority relating to this matter.”

As part of the plans, a new playground will also be created and section 106 funding - cash set aside by developers for local amenities - will also be provided.

A total of 480 neighbouring properties have been made aware of the plans.

Public consultation ends on December 30.