News: Rotherham Persimmon plans pulled

An application for 155 houses in Rotherham by Persimmon Homes submitted in 2019 is no longer being assessed by the local planning authority. It comes as rival housebuilders prepare plans for the adjacent plots of land.

Rothbiz reported last year that a masterplan was updated for a proposed housing scheme on a parcel of land at Aston where developers have been unable to bring forward a commercial scheme.

Persimmon Homes and Gleeson Homes had both identified the site at Mansfield Road for development.

The wider site was allocated for mixed use in the council's local plan with the authority explaining that around 150 houses could be accomodated here alongside employment uses.

Landowners Network Space Ltd has owned the site for over 30 years and has been unable to deliver employment land development owing to the topography and ground condition relevant to industrial development.

Gleeson's 2024 plans are for 111 houses - a mix of houses across the sloping site - 23, two-bed houses, 63, three-bed and 25, four-bed. Twelve are designed as bungalows.

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Rotherham Council has asked for a masterplan for the "comprehensive development of the whole site" which is required to support any planning permission.

Consultants, nineteen47 on behalf of Gleeson Homes, submitted a masterplan, which includes planned uses for Gleeson's site, Persimmon's site, and a remaining parcel of land between the existing Mansfield Road Industrial Estate and the A57 Aston Bypass.

The 2024 application for Gleeson, drawn up by Nineteen47, explains: "The neighbouring application to the east does not comprise committed residential development. The application was validated in December 2019 and since that time very limited progress has been made towards the determination of the application. There is no clear rationale for the delays and the application could yet be withdrawn or refused by the LPA, it cannot be relied upon to satisfy the housing requirement within the allocation. The proposed housing within this application could therefore contribute to the anticipated provision of housing within the site."

The 2019 Permisson application remained undetermined until last month and is now listed as withdrawn.

The whole site is adjacent to another potential housing site where builder Keepmoat is progressing plans. Closer to Swallownest, the site known as Aston Common was allocated for residential use in the council's local plan that was adopted in 2018, taking it out of the green belt.

Agents said last year that the intention was to pursue a full planning application for 189 dwellings on the 16.2 hectare site.

Images: Google Maps / Gleeson / nineteen47 / niemen

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News: Masterplan updated for Rotherham housing scheme

A masterplan has been updated for a proposed housing scheme on a parcel of land in Rotherham where developers have been unable to bring forward a commercial scheme.

Rothbiz reported in October 2024 on rival housebuilders Persimmon Homes and Gleeson Homes, both identifying the site at Aston for development.

The Mansfield Road site was allocated for mixed use in the council's local plan with the authority explaining that around 150 houses could be accomodated here alongside employment uses.

Plans for 155 houses on part of the site were submitted by Persimmon Homes in 2019, with Gleeson submitting a planning application for 111 houses last year for another part of the site.

Rotherham Council has asked for a masterplan for the "comprehensive development of the whole site" which is required to support any planning permission.

Consultants, nineteen47 on behalf of Gleeson Homes, have now submitted a masterplan, which includes planned uses for Gleeson's site, Persimmon's site, and a remaining parcel of land between the existing Mansfield Road Industrial Estate and the A57 Aston Bypass.

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Applicants argue that their site is not required for employment use and therefore both this and the parcel to the east can appropriately accommodate new housing development.

Landowners Network Space Ltd has owned the Site for over 30 years and has been unable to deliver employment land development owing to the topography and ground condition relevant to industrial development.

The masterplan shows that the remaining western parcel of land could be used for future housing development, or as a dedicated biodiversity net gain site featuring enhanced landscape planting.

The application concludes that the update "demonstrates how residential development can be comprehensively delivered within the Application Site as part of a cohesive masterplan alongside residential development to the east, and alternative forms of development on the remainder of the allocation to the west.

"Two illustrative masterplans have been provided, which illustrate potential future uses for the remaining allocation land to the west. It has been demonstrated that these future uses could be integrated cohesively with the Application Site and will be able to function as a well connected and considered final development."

Aston-cum-Aughton Parish Council has already objected to the plans.

Gleeson website
Persimmon website

Images: Gleeson / nineteen47 / niemen

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News: Rival plans for housing at Rotherham mixed use site

A parcel of land in Rotherham, where developers have been unable to bring forward a commercial scheme, could be used for new housing, if plans are approved.

The site at Aston is west of a site where another planning application was submitted for 155 houses by Persimmon Homes in 2019.

Gleeson Homes has now identified a site at Mansfield Road for a new development and a planning application has been submitted for 111 houses.

The wider site was allocated for mixed use in the council's local plan with the authority explaining that around 150 houses could be accomodated here alongside employment uses.

Gleeson's plans are for a mix of houses across the sloping site - 23, two-bed houses, 63, three-bed and 25, four-bed. Twelve are designed as bungalows.

The main access to the new development would be from Mansfield Road with existing telegraph wires and poles redirected to enable development. The south of the site would include open space and wetlands in the drainage area.

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The 2019 Permisson application remains undetermined but if either are approved it would leave the majority of the remaining land for employment use.

The application for Gleeson, drawn up by Nineteen47, explains: "The neighbouring application to the east does not comprise committed residential development. The application was validated in December 2019 and since that time very limited progress has been made towards the determination of the application. There is no clear rationale for the delays and the application could yet be withdrawn or refused by the LPA, it cannot be relied upon to satisfy the housing requirement within the allocation. The proposed housing within this application could therefore contribute to the anticipated provision of housing within the Site."

The application also sets out why the land has not yet been developed for employment use.

A report from Cushman & Wakefield submitted with the application confirms that "landowners Network Space Ltd have owned the Site for over 30 years and has been unable to deliver employment land development owing to the topography and ground condition relevant to industrial development."

Network Space has led the successful Vector 31 industrial schemes at nearby Waleswood.

Also at Mansfield Road, agents Eddisons are currently marketing the former Dodds Transport yard which is adjacent to the undeveloped land.

Gleeson website
Persimmon website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Plans approved for 300 houses in Rotherham

A national housebuilder has received planning approval from Rotherham Council for a large housing development near West Melton and Brampton.

Rothbiz reported in October that the application from Persimmon for 311 houses on land off Barnsley Road / Pontefract Road was recommended for approval by the planning board.

The greenfield site was allocated for housing in Rotherham's development plan in 2018 then Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estates put the 11.73 hectare site up for sale in 2019.

The full application is for a development that provides a mix of, two, three and four bed dwellings and a range of sizes to meet family needs. In Persimmon's styles, the proposed units are all two storeys in height with the exception of some house types which are 2.5 storeys with a master bedroom provided in the roof space.

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The proposal also includes the provision of 25% on site affordable housing units, which equates to 78 dwellings. Vehicle access is proposed off Barnsley Road but not Pontefract Road due to the level difference between the site and Pontefract Road, along with the presence of a gas main.

The delay was caused by the number of conditions attached to the approval and now a Section 106 agreement (a mechanism which makes a development proposal acceptable in planning terms, that would not otherwise be acceptable) has been signed by the council and developer, meaning that planning approval is granted.

In addition to the 25% affordable housing, other conditions in the Section 106 agreement include £155,500 towards sustainable transport measures, a £45,000 contribution to maintenance of existing Off Site Play Area within 400m of the site, a £45,000 contribution to footpath links, a £145,659 contribution to meet the increased demand of sport in the locality, a £54,947 contribution towards two bus shelters with real time digital displays near the site and a £609,451.75 contribution to education.

Persimmon, a listed company headquarted in York, reported total group revenues of £3.82bn for the year ended 31 December 2022, up from £3.61bn in 2021. Profit before tax was £730.7m, down from £966.8m the previous year. Warning that "the market remains uncertain" bosses said there could be 8,000-9,000 sales in 2023 unless there was a market improvement. 8,000 sales would be a 46% drop on the 14,868 homes completed in 2022.

Persimmon website

Images: Google Maps

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News: 300+ houses set for approval at new North Rotherham development

Plans from a national housebuilder for a 311 home development near West Melton and Brampton are being recommended for approval.

Rothbiz reported in February that Persimmon was looking to build on land off Barnsley Road / Pontefract Road that was a greenfield site allocated for housing in Rotherham's development plan in 2018.

After the allocation, Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estates put the 11.73 hectare site up for sale in 2019.

The full application is for a development that provides a mix of, two, three and four bed dwellings and a range of sizes to meet family needs. In Persimmon's styles, the proposed units are all two storeys in height with the exception of some house types which are 2.5 storeys with a master bedroom provided in the roof space.

The proposal also includes the provision of 25% on site affordable housing units, which equates to 78 dwellings.

The plans are due to be discussed at the next planning board at Rotherham Council, with planners recomending that they are approved, subject to anumber of conditions.

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Vehicle access is proposed off Barnsley Road but not Pontefract Road due to the level difference between the site and Pontefract Road, along with the presence of a gas main.

Applicants conclude that the proposed development will not result in a severe impact on the operation of the transport network but objections have come in, including from local ward councillors, raising concerns over an increased volume of traffic in the area.

The planner's report addresses transport issues but concludes that "Whilst it is acknowledged that the proposal would lead to an increase in traffic ... the Transportation Officer does not raise an objection in terms of traffic volumes or highway safety issues."

The proposal includes financial contributions such as £609,451.75 for local education provision, £155,500 for sustainable transport measures, £145,659 towards future demand for sport arising from the development and £45,000 towards the maintenance and or improvement of existing off site play area.

Planners conclude: "The scheme is acceptable in terms of the design and layout, highway safety, provision of open space, drainage, ecology and landscaping as well as other general amenity issues identified above. The scheme is considered to be sustainable and has notable benefits in terms of market and affordable housing provision and associated social and economic benefits arising from such provision. Development in this location will support the ongoing delivery of services and facilities within Wat-upon-Dearne [sic] wider area and provide much needed market housing to meet Local Plan targets for housing development within the Plan period to 2028."

The planning board is due to meet on November 3 to discuss the plans.

Persimmon website

Images: Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estates

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News: 300+ houses planned in new North Rotherham development

A national housebuilder has submitted a planning application for a 311 home development near West Melton.

Persimmon is looking to build on land off Barnsley Road / Pontefract Road that was a greenfield site allocated for housing in Rotherham's development plan in 2018.

After the allocation, Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estates put the 11.73 hectare site up for sale in 2019.

The full application is for a development that provides a mix of, two, three and four bed dwellings and a range of sizes to meet family needs. In Persimmon's styles, the proposed units are all two storeys in height with the exception of some house types which are 2.5 storeys with a master bedroom provided in the roof space.

In response to the comments received during consultation last yerar on a proposed scheme for 330 dwellings, the number of units on the site has been reduced further in the application proposal to 311.

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The proposal will provide 78 affordable units (25%), so will ensure a policy compliant level of affordable housing provision.

The site will have a single point of access for vehicles from Barnsley Road via a priority junction.

The application, drawn up by DLP, adds: "Based on a six and a half year build period, the development is expected to support 123 direct FTE construction jobs per year of construction and 168 indirect FTE jobs per year of construction. Where appropriate, local labour would be given the opportunity to be involved."

Open space and a flood storage basin to manage surface water are also in the plans. Gateway space, meadows and a play area are included with the plans adding "the pylon and water easements across the site provide the framework for the green infrastructure on the site."

Founded in 1972, the Persimmon Group has grown to become one of the largest and most successful house builders in the UK. A listed company, the Group posted revenues of £3.61bn for 2021 compared to 2020's £3.33bn. It brought over 20,500 new plots into the business in 2021 and has £1.15bn of forward sales reserved beyond the current year as well as a quality pipeline of new developments coming on stream.

Persimmon website

Images: Fitzwilliam Wentworth

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