News: Waverley plans given go-ahead

Outline plans for the massive redevlopment of Waverley in Rotherham will be approved by Rotherham Council after the government decided not to intervene.

In January members of the planning board agreed with planners that approval be granted for UK Coal's outline application to create a sustainable, high density, mixed use community, including 3890 houses, community facilities and green areas.

They also agreed with planners that approval be granted for outline plans from Helical Governetz for a 60,000 sq m government office campus and hotel on the site.

Both applications were referred to the Secratary of State for confirmation.

The application is for South Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield development creating a new 4,000 home community across 741 acres from UK COAL's property arm, Harworth Estates.

The two proposals are expected to create over 7,000 jobs with a development phase of over 20 years.

Bronwen Peace, planning manager at Rotherham Council, said that the plans were the largest, most complex, planning applications ever considered by Rotherham.

She said: "It is reassuring that the Government, after having considered all the issues and all the received representations, has decided not to intervene and will now allow Rotherham to determine both applications."

Cllr David Pickering, chairman of the Rotherham Planning Board, added: "This decision will give a great boost for Rotherham, its on-going regeneration and its aims to provide sustainable housing on brownfield land.

"The reclamation of this former opencast mine is almost complete, lakes have been created on site for drainage purposes and public access around the site is already available.

"But now we can look forward to issuing the permission and dealing with future detailed applications to secure its built development in the very near future."

Waverley Community website

Images: waverleycommunity.org.uk