A ‘SCANDALOUS’ decision to flatten two sought-after council properties in order to make a development site more attractive to housing firms will not result in them being replaced - despite no progress being made at the site in years.
Letters were sent to several neighbouring properties on South Road, Dodworth, several years ago to inform them of the demolition work which lasted about a month.
The cost of demolishing the two properties and making the site fit for building was £28,604, including service disconnections.
Persimmon Homes, the developer behind the original 146-home planning application, outlined its bid for the land in 2018 but concerns over its first choice access route - via a cul-de-sac on Bark Meadows - had delayed a decision.
They then pulled out but another developer - Keepmoat Homes - lodged their own 126-house bid but no update has been provided since it was registered with the council in January 2022.
The move to demolish the two homes - seen as a sweetener - irked then-councillor Peter Fielding, who campaigned to save two ‘much-needed’ properties, and the mantle was then taken on by Coun Andy Waters, who represents the Dodworth ward.
“These were four-bed homes which we know are arguably the most sought-after of all within the council’s stock,” he told the Chronicle.
“They basically demolished them in order to make the site more enticing as it was decided the route in - which was effectively being blocked by them - was the best solution.
“This planning application has been on the books for a long time but I believe it’s pointless and a waste of time as I’m led to believe that the recreation field is owned by Sport England, not the council, hence why there’s been an enormous, years-long wait.”
According to estimates, there are less than 150 four-bedroom homes on the council’s 18,000-strong property register.
The number of households waiting for a council house in Barnsley has been significantly reduced recently, according to the council.
A total of 7,762 households were waiting for a home this time last year but it’s now down to just over 5,000 thanks to a new scheme which has cut people many who live out of the borough and had submitted long-term expressions of interest off the list.
However, with schemes such as Right to Buy, a surge in applications has been recorded after a rule change under the Labour government late last year.
Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet member for regeneration and culture, said: “There are currently no plans to develop the cleared plot on South Road.
“The houses on South Road were demolished in order to help facilitate access into the allocation to deliver additional new homes in the area - including new affordable housing.
“The development of the wider site will be considered via the planning process.
“I am not aware of the claims about ownership but it’s something we will check.”
