Unpopular housing plans to be decided this week

Unpopular plans to build 156 homes at Altofts that has attracted hundreds of signatures in protest looks set to be decided this week.
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More than 580 people have signed the petition in an effort to halt the plans for the home off Pope Street, while a further 187 letters have been sent to Wakefield Council.

The proposals are a re-submission of an earlier planning application by Wakefield District Housing (WDH) for 161 homes but was later withdrawn.

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WDH said it had listened to residents’ concerns stemming from the previous application and had made changes.

Protesters took to the street against the plans.Protesters took to the street against the plans.
Protesters took to the street against the plans.

But the move to reduce the number of homes from 161 to 156 for the latest application has been described as “insulting”.

Residents even held protests last year, legally parking along Pope Street on an evening to show the effect the extra homes would have on traffic.

Charlotte Broomhead, who set up the petition, said: “Altofts is a small village with mining heritage this development will substantially change the character of the village.

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“We strongly believe further development will turn Altofts into a congested, polluted and overgrown urban sprawl.

The land off Pope Street.The land off Pope Street.
The land off Pope Street.

“The previous application was for 161 houses but was withdrawn, to reduce the application by five is quite insulting considering the concerns and comments from existing village residents previously raised. Further development will turn Altofts into a congested, polluted and overgrown urban sprawl.”

Known as Bridgeland Grange Farm, the plans show a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced two-storey homes, along with two bungalows on the triangle-shaped patch of land.

Forty-seven homes would be classed as ‘affordable’, split between shared ownership and the rental market.

Two areas of open space are also proposed, including a play park.

‘The application will be decided at Wakefield Council’s planning meeting, to be held this Thursday, March 18.