OUTLINE planning permission for a potential 232-home estate has been given by councillors.

The application, which comprises a seven-and-three-quarter hectare site off Wakefield Road, between New Lodge, Athersley South and Smithies, was made by Tim Love.

Planning board members conducted a site visit before meeting at Barnsley Town Hall on Tuesday to discuss the bid, which was approved in its outline form, meaning the applicant will have to come back for full permission in the future to press ahead with the scheme.

The council say a figure of £4,985.47 per dwelling will be accumulated to improve primary and secondary schools more than £1.1m.

As well as a boost to education, costs for the repair of the East Gawber Hall Colliery fan house which is on the site will be covered by a £109,200 donation.

Fifteen per cent of the 232 homes would be classed as ‘affordable housing’, according to the plan, which has accrued seven objections from residents who cite loss of privacy, increased noise, pedestrian safety and impacts on wildlife as reasons why outline permission should be rejected.

A planning statement said: “The indicative plan proposes blocks of dwellings running north-west and south-east with surface water attenuation basins in the south-west of the site and a play space to the east in the location of the current stream and ‘valley’.

“The proposed development would provide up to 232 new dwellings, at a time when the council cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of housing, so it is a significant benefit.

“In the overall balance, the adverse impacts identified would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the social and economic benefits.”