Building begins on field after planning battle

Residents on Rose Hill field, which is the site of a new Miller Homes development

A developer has confirmed that work would begin to build 121 new houses on a greenfield site that was the subject of a long planning battle.

Residents of the Rose Hill estate in Bessacarr lobbied Doncaster Council to refuse Miller Homes permission to build on the former agricultural land near their homes.

The action group thought they had won their fight when the planning application was turned down in March 2023, but Miller were then granted consent after winning an appeal.

Last week people living near the 17-acre site were informed that preparatory work would get underway on 5 August.

The Rose Hill Residents' Association protesting outside Doncaster Council offices

The developer said a helpline had been set up for anyone with concerns about the construction activity to call.

The field, which was council-owned and had not been farmed for around 30 years, had been left to "rewild" and gave residents access to nearby green space including Sandall Beat Woods and Doncaster Racecourse.

Miller said that the path that provided a public right of way into the woods would be "temporarily" diverted during the work.

A letter sent to households said: "Some preparatory works are planned to take place from Monday August 5, which will include the temporary diversion of the existing public rights of way, such that residents and members of the public can continue to access the Red House Plantation and Sandall Beat Woods via Rose Hill Rise and the Racecourse land.

“Over the coming weeks you will see increased activity in the area, with main site contractors being present from early September."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service followed the campaign by the Rose Hill Residents' Association, which was formed to oppose elements of the scheme including the environmental impact and the increase in traffic on the estate, which has only one exit.

Miller Homes representatives maintained that the development had been designed with 35% of the land allocated as open space.

The company's land director, Ian Thomson, said: “We are delighted to be able to start work on bringing our homes to this wonderful part of Doncaster and helping local people find a brand-new home that suits their requirements perfectly.

“The design of the development has been carefully considered to create a setting of contemporary homes within landscaped green spaces and protected woodland around the site boundaries."

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