MAJOR plans to develop a large plot of land which has already been subject to interest from businesses - including parcel delivery giant Hermes - are set to be adopted by Barnsley Council despite campaigners’ calls.
The Hoyland West masterplan - one of several that outline future housing and business use in large areas of Barnsley - will go before senior councillors in the council’s ruling cabinet on Wednesday, ahead of being presented to a full council meeting for adoption the following day.
The masterplan relates to proposed business land west of Sheffield Road, a 100-home housing estate on Tankersley Lane and the potential relocation of Rockingham Sports Ground to Parkside, Hoyland.
The land was allocated in the council’s local plan, which was adopted in January of last year and identifies future use of similar masterplan frameworks across the borough up to 2033.
The first two, Hoyland North, and Barnsley West - referred to as MU1 - were adopted by the local authority in December.
Hoyland West is considered to be one of the local plan’s largest employment allocations, with the site at full capacity expected to yield more than 3,000 jobs.
There has already been interest in the 49.3 hectares pegged for business use, with logistics firm Hermes submitting plans to build a new 363,000sq ft ‘mega hub’ that promises up to 800 jobs and a potential to bring £41m into the town through a 20-year lease commitment.
Residents whose homes will border the site put their signatures to a 1,400-strong petition against the development.
A report which will be issued to cabinet members admitted that while the application has ‘created confusion and concern’ among residents opposed to the plans - due to preempting the masterplan framework - interest in the site was ‘welcomed’.
It said interest from the logistics sector was ‘inevitable’ due to its close proximity to junction 36 of the M1.
“Such interest in the site so soon after adoption of the local plan is welcomed and demonstrates that the site is an attractive proposition but the planning application is complex and is being considered in the usual way,” said the report.
“The applicant has been advised that the applications will not be determined until the masterplan framework is adopted and the planning and regulatory board is a separate decision-making body to the cabinet.
“Whilst any decision to adopt the masterplan framework will be a step forward in enabling the planning application to be assessed against the framework, it does not prejudice the decision of the planning and regulatory board.
“Nonetheless, the arrival of the planning application in advance of the masterplan framework being adopted has enabled officers and consultees to look in more detail at site constraints and technical requirements.”
A public consultation on the masterplan ran from May until June, with a questionnaire receiving 113 responses.
Part of Rockingham Sports Ground is planned to give way to employment use, despite apprehension from locals.
After consultation with site owners Forge Community Partnership, it’s recommended that the ground be reconfigured while a new facility is sited near Parkside, to the west of Sheffield Road - with investment coming through section 106 contributions from housing providers.
A new cricket facility will later be provided within residential development in the Hoyland North area.
Tankersley Lane is planned to be closed to the east of the site while a new spine road is created, forming a cul-de-sac for residents most affected by the development - which is considered the safest option despite causing a detour for motorists travelling to Hoyland Common.
