Redbeck Motel demolition moves closer as housing plans progress
Plans to demolish the Redbeck Motel in Crofton are moving forward with developers preparing to submit the next stage of applications for a major housing scheme.
Wakefield Council has already granted outline planning permission for the demolition of the Doncaster Road site and the construction of up to 90 affordable homes.
Only the main access has been agreed at this stage, with the appearance, layout, scale and landscaping set to be decided later.
A Wakefield Council case officer report said that all other aspects of the development, including layout, scale, appearance and landscaping, will be decided at a later stage.
The report also suggested that the 3.5-hectare site — currently home to the motel, parking areas and scrubland — could feature public open space, a “potential village green” and “nature walk and recreational opportunities.”
The application attracted significant opposition, with 194 objections raising concerns about building on Green Belt land, increased traffic and pressure on local services.
Residents said the proposal “conflicts with Green Belt” policy and could “create a precedent for building on Green Belt land.”
Others warned Doncaster Road is already “gridlocked at rush hours” and expressed concern over the impact on schools, GP surgeries and local infrastructure.
Wildlife and the loss of a long-standing local business were also cited.
Crofton Parish Council said the cumulative effect of recent housing developments has already increased traffic and placed strain on local services.
Wakefield councillors echoed these concerns, highlighting congestion, oversubscribed schools and pressure on doctors and dentists.
A smaller number of responses supported the scheme, describing the site as an “eyesore” and suggesting redevelopment would benefit the area.
Some argued the motel could become derelict if left unchanged and that new housing would be a “good investment” for the owner.
Despite the objections, officers concluded the scheme should go ahead.
A Wakefield Council case officer report said there were “no technical reasons to withhold planning permission” and that the proposal represented “sustainable development".
It added that “the benefits associated with the proposal clearly outweigh those identified harms,” providing the “very special circumstances” required for building in the Green Belt.
Developers will now prepare detailed plans for the homes, open spaces and landscaping.
Renowned for its breakfast special, the Redbeck was established in 1969.