Yorkshire miners oppose 115 homes plan for colliery site

Outline plans have been approved for 115 homes to be built on a former coal mine site in Barnsley despite local miners protesting against the project.

A pair of applications for hundreds of homes across two sites in Darton – a village in Barnsley – were approved at a council meeting last week, however local miners have stated the scheme will strip the site of its ‘identity’. 

Rouse Homes, supported by DLP Planning, have outlined plans to build 115 new homes – 22 of which will be deemed ‘affordable’. The new properties will split across parts of the Woolley Colliery Mine.

As well as building new homes, plans also include new access, pedestrian and cycle links and public amenity space. 

Following this, 22 residents wrote to Barnsley Council raising a number of concerns – individuals claim the latest project will contribute to extra traffic congestion, air pollution and noise and a loss of ecological value. 

Although, authorities have attempted to reassure locals that precautions have been taken to ensure as little damage is caused as possible. In response to controlling traffic, hedgerows will be removed and replaced three metres back, in a bid to improve visibility.

An assessment of the main road by the development displays the impact of the traffic generated by the project will ‘marginally increase queuing, particularly during the AM peak period’.

The report adds the queuing was ‘shown to be short-lived and can be satisfactorily accommodated without impact on upstream junctions and accordingly, no further detailed assessment or mitigation in respect of the junction is therefore necessary’.

The site is also home to a rare butterfly species, which has caused some controversy when plans were approved to build new homes. However, the council’s officer claimed the land would deteriorate and may not be a suitable habitat in the next five to 10 years.

Developers and the local authorities ecologist have agreed on a 30-year plan to allow such species to ‘thrive’.

Photo by Dominik Vanyi