Wakefield Council land sale to enable affordable housing scheme set to go ahead

Wakefield Council’s cabinet members have been asked to agree to proposals to dispose of a 5.3 acre plot at City Fields so the development can go ahead.

Planning permission for housing on the site was approved in January this year.

At the time, the council said it proposed to sell the land to a private developer to complete the project once the scheme was approved.

Council leader Denise Jeffery said: “Everyone should have a safe, warm and secure place that they can call home.

“We’ve a strong track record of helping to make this happen.

“In the last five years, we’ve seen over 6,800 homes built in our area. About 20% of that was affordable housing, helping people get on the property ladder.

“We’re aiming for another 7,000 new homes to be built by 2030, along with the infrastructure needed to support the communities who will live here.”

Wakefield-based Yorkshire Choice Home would acquire the land if councillors agree to the deal at a meeting on December 16.

The site is adjacent to Linton Road on the city’s Eastmoor estate.

The proposed scheme would be the third phase of development on council-owned land in the area,

The authority owns around 60 of 375 acres of land earmarked for development at City Fields.

A new suburb of around 2,500 homes is expected when the major expansion to the east of the city is completed.

The council’s planning committee unanimously approved the housing scheme earlier this year, despite 24 objections.

Some objectors raised concerns about the impact of development on wildlife habitats.

Others said there was a lack of local infrastructure, including a shortage of school places, medical facilities and shops, to accommodate more housing.

Coun Jeffery said: “We know that getting this right at City Fields involves a high-quality housing offer that meets local demand.

“But we realise that needs this to sit alongside the correct infrastructure, which involves all developers delivering on their commitments to invest in the facilities we need to support a thriving community in this part of our district.

“We’ll continue to hold their feet to the fire on that and we’re expecting to be able to share a significant update on it in the near future.”

A report to cabinet members said: “The delivery of this scheme will ensure that Wakefield can offer a high quality housing offer that meets residents’ needs within the shortest time frame possible.

“Additionally, this route of disposal will ensure that the quality of the development can be maintained through the controls afforded under the planning process.”

The document added: “The scheme will create its own micro economy and jobs and will deliver much needed new homes for existing and new residents of Wakefield.

“Yorkshire Choice Homes are a Wakefield based developer and employ a number of local residents as part of their workforce.”

A planning meeting earlier this year heard the development would include building bungalows close to Neil Fox Way and planting 200 trees.

A children’s play area plus pedestrian and cycle routes was also planned across the site.