Homes plan for Doncaster beauty spot gets government go-ahead

Members of Rose Hill Residents' Association said they wanted to keep the area as a wildlife habitat

Plans for over 120 new homes at a South Yorkshire beauty spot have been given the final go-ahead.

The proposed development at Rose Hill Rise in Bessacarr had previously been rejected by councillors, but the government has approved updated plans.

Local residents had campaigned against the propsals, describing the area as a "beloved community space".

Developer Miller Homes said it was "pleased" the Planning Inspectorate had now allowed the plans to progress.

After the firm had submitted its original proposal for 121 houses on the site in Doncaster, campaigners formed the Rose Hill Residents' Association (RHRA) and staged several protests against the development.

Miller Homes said it was "committed to working closely with residents" over the plans for the site

Members of the RHRA said they wanted the land to remain a wildlife habitat and had gained backing by groups including the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

In March 2023, the initial application by Miller Homes was rejected, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The developer then submitted an appeal alongside a second application for the plans, with minor changes such as updated building regulations and ecology reports.

In a statement to the BBC, the firm added that the plans had received input from professional ecologists and would include native hedging and trees to support insects and birds, pollinator planting, a wildflower grassland, nest boxes for swifts and bat roosts.

Following a month of deliberation, the Planning Inspectorate has now allowed the appeal, deeming the plans suitable.

It said the updated proposals would "deliver a better quality of life for residents".

Responding, Miller Homes said: "We are pleased we can now progress with the delivery of 121 much-needed family homes at Rose Hill, helping to meet the high demand for quality homes in the area."

The developer added that it was "committed to working closely with residents and elected members".