Plans for South Yorkshire's biggest brownfield development submitted to council

Multi million pound proposals for South Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield development creating a new 4,000 home community across 741 acres have been submitted to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

The plans by mining, property and energy company UK COAL would transform a former coke works and mining site near Catcliffe in South Yorkshire which covers an area bigger than Sheffield city centre - into a high quality residential and employment site.

UK COAL, through its property development company Harworth Estates, wants to redevelop the former surface mine site in Waverley over a 20 year period into a sustainable, high-density, mixed-use community, including approximately 4,000 houses, community facilities and green areas.

UK COAL and planners Atisreal have worked with the local communities to bring the masterplan to the public via consultation sessions and have now submitted an outline planning application.

Tim Love, Harworth Estates' development director said: "This submission, which is the culmination of 15 years of preparatory work, aims to provide major economic benefits to South Yorkshire and if successful, will create a unique, sustainable development on a historic, fully restored former mine site.

"The proposal would transform this area with a mainly industrial past to a modern 21st century development that will benefit thousands of local people in terms of providing new affordable housing, employment opportunities, schools and leisure facilities.

"We have worked closely with the local council, the Environment Agency, drainage and transport experts to bring together this masterplan as well as consulting with nearby residents about their concerns to make this submission the strongest and most applicable to local people."

The scheme is aimed at creating an 9,000-strong community including two schools, shops, bars, restaurants and a stunning waterside frontage onto three man-made lakes.

The huge scale of the project means building will be phased over a 20 year period with a range of homes being built each year to allow the gradual influx of people minimising the impact on schools and infrastructure in surrounding areas. Up to a quarter of the new properties will be affordable housing with the scheme hitting government targets for local housing needs.

Public open space is also a key feature to the proposals with almost half the site being made up of open space, woodland and the lakes.

Planning permission has already been granted for the Advanced Manufacturing Park and Highfield Commercial. The residential development forms the third planning application in the vicinity. A separate planning application by Helical Governetz for a large office development for government workers at the site is also proposed.

UK COAL has completed a series of public events for communities living near the site, explaining the plans to provide schools, a health centre, social and leisure facilities, environmental issues including sustainability, air quality, drainage and transport as part of the development.

John Dunshea, head of the planning department at Atisreal's Sheffield office, added: "We have worked to create a masterplan that takes account of planning policy, government requirements for housing needs and the local community and which will provide a vibrant and attractive environment.

"The proposals aim to build on the existing consents for the AMP and Highfield Commercial by developing a complementary mixed-use residential quarter and by providing the physical and functional framework that will allow Waverley to become an integrated, sustainable community."

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) supports the principle of development at the site and earlier this year approved details of the restoration of the site to a condition suitable for built development. This included details on ecology, landscaping and drainage including the creation of 20 hectares of lakes.

The Waverley submission will be followed by an outline planning application for the government office development later this summer. A Park and Ride planning application for the site will be submitted later this year by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.

For more information about the Waverley community proposals please visit www.waverleycommunity.org.uk. The proposals can also be accessed via www.rmbc.gov.uk

The submission comes in the same week as UK COAL was granted planning permission by Wakefield Council to develop 917 homes and a business park on the 300-acre former Prince of Wales Colliery site at Pontefract in West Yorkshire.

The scheme also includes retail outlets, restaurants and community facilities including a medical centre and nursery, as well as parkland.