Planners reject 164-home plan for site near village

Developer Avant had sought permission to build on farmland off Pope Street

Proposals to build 164 homes near a village in Wakefield have been rejected.

The 14 acre (six hectare) site, on farmland near Pope Street in Altofts, was outside a defined urban area and was not allocated for housing use, Wakefield Council planners ruled.

A previous application to build homes on the site was rejected in 2020 when the authority said the scheme "would not maintain a clear definition of the village boundary".

Over 100 objections were lodged against the latest plans, by developer Avant, including fears it would increase traffic problems in the area.

Avant's scheme included a mix of one to four-bedroom homes at the site, along with 16 affordable properties.

The proposed scheme also included the demolition of agricultural buildings at Bridgeland Grange Farm.

A planning statement by Avant said the scheme would "provide a range of family houses in one of the most sustainable settlements in the district that will widen home ownership and help meet the needs of present and future generations in a well-designed and safe environment".

Objectors feared the development would increase the amount of traffic in the area

The 108 objections included concerns from district councillors, Normanton Town Council and community group Residents Against Increased Development in Altofts.

An objection from Jo Hepworth, Josie Pritchard and Jacquie Speight, councillors for the Altofts and Whitwood ward, said: "The roads around Altofts are already struggling to deal with traffic volumes, especially since the building of City Fields, which is not even complete yet."

The loss of green space, the lack of infrastructure including places at schools, doctors and dentists were also raised by objectors.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Normanton Town Council said the plans posed risks to "the quality of life for existing residents" due to noise, pollution and traffic hazards.

An officer's report said 1,774 homes had already been allocated at other sites in the Altofts and Normanton area under the council's plans outlining locations for new homes.

"It is therefore considered that the local need is met by existing housing allocations," the officer said.

In July last year, Wakefield Council's planning and highways committee approved Taylor Wimpey's plans to build 400 homes in the village, off Wharfedale Drive.

Three months later, Avant was given consent to build 83 properties on an adjacent site.

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