A LOCAL councillor has hit out at a developer after they refused to hold a public consultation event on their plans to build more than 100 homes on a disused colliery site in Darton.
In 2022, applicant Rouse Homes’ plan to build a total of 115 homes on neighbouring sites off Woolley Colliery Road were approved by the council’s planning board.
Up to 75 had been earmarked for the northern-most site, with 40 more on the southern part, according to a planning report.
The site has been plagued by fly-tipping in recent years and the Woolley Grange Residents’ Association said the application is a positive step forward.
However, the applicants decided to not move forward despite receiving planning permission - and now Gleeson Homes have earmarked the site for a total of 114 homes.
Coun Dickie Denton, who represents the Darton East ward for the Liberal Democrats, told the Chronicle that he has been left frustrated after Gleeson Homes refused to hold a public consultation event with residents.
He added: “I am disappointed and frustrated about the way this application has been managed.
“A very limited number of impacted residents were advised by the council planning department or the developers that this application was pending, and it has been down to the Darton East councillors via street letters, social media and the local press to ensure that residents are aware.
“The developers have also declined my suggestion to hold a public consultation event.
“Given the number of approved and pending development applications I would hope that all bodies would believe it be both prudent and in their interests, to engage the local community both proactively and transparently in order that the best, informed comment and decisions can be made in the wider context of the residential expansion of the area.”
Coun Denton added that there are a number of active applications in his ward, and admits he is concerned about the lack of infrastructure there currently is for residents given the proposed number of new houses that are set to be build.
“We will of course consider the application carefully, but my initial concerns expressed two years ago when this site was first proposed and approved for development still remain apparently unaddressed,” he added.
“There seems to be little consideration for the infrastructure needed to support further developments and the extra pressure that this will put on our already overburdened road transport networks is not sustainable.
“As Liberal Democrat councillors we have spoken before about Barnsley Council’s ‘flawed local plan’.
“With other applications pending or approved for Darton Lane, Coniston Avenue, the old Darton Primary School site, Paddock Road, Wakefield Road and now Woolley Colliery Road, this further validates our concerns.
“There appears to be little thought for the cumulative impact of multiple simultaneous development applications in the Darton East ward.
“Should this application be approved, we will be insisting vocally that any statutory developer’s contributions should be invested in the immediate vicinity.”
