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Countryside plots 200 Wakefield homes

9 December 2024 09:35 Neil Tague Comments (0)

Approval is recommended for the Knottingley project, designed by Edward Architecture.

Wakefield Council’s planning committee will consider the proposals at its meeting on 12 December.

Part of the Vistry group, Countryside proposes a 50% affordable, 50% market sale development, with the affordable homes being backed by Homes England’s Affordable Homes Programme. ID Planning is advising.

The application site is around 20 acres and is currently agricultural land, the majority of it allocated for housing in the adopted local plan. It is roughly rectangular and located at the south-eastern extent of the urban area of Knottingley.

There is housing in the nearby area, along with a concrete manufacturing plant to the north. A railway line divides the site from a quarry to the west. The M62 passes around 200m from the site.

Couuntrside Properties is seeking full consent for 218 homes with associated car parking, public open space, landscaping and infrastructure with access from Womersley Road via a proposed priority T-junction.

The access road leading into the site is to be tree-lined with grass verges separating the carriageway from the footway, with a “focal area” of public open space to be formed at the head of this.

Housing layout has been designed in blocks creating three loop roads within the estate, while a ribbon of public open space is to be created along the western boundary providing a buffer to the railway line beyond. This open space is to include a footway within it and two “play nodes” breaking up its length. A similar but narrower buffer of open space is to be provided along the southern and northern site boundary.

The housing breakdown is as follows:

Four one-bed ground floor flats to meet wheelchair-accessible building regulations standards.
96 two-bedroom homes, made up of a mix of semi-detached houses, short row terraces (four maximum) and first floor flats.
102 three-bedroom homes, comprising a mix of detached houses, semi-detached houses and short row terraces (three maximum). Three of these will be accessibility-led.
16 four-bedroom homes.

As set out in the planning officers’ report, Countryside’s plans have attracted 127 objections, covering a number of areas, including infrastructure and over-development.

Edward Architecture’s design & access statement said: “Detailed and careful consideration has been given to these proposals that will create a development which respects the existing site and will provide a high quality and well considered place to live.”

The plans can be viewed on Wakefield Council’s planning portal with the reference 24/00231/FUL.