560 homes on pit site within eight years

Newspaper: Pontefract & Castleford Express.
Story: Plans for a new development off Flass Lane, Glasshoughton, which include 560 homes, is expected to be approved by Wakefield council.
L to R) Cllrs Denise Jeffrey, Kathryn Scott and Jacquie Speight.
Photo date: 26/08/15
Picture Ref: AB190b0815 — Newspaper: Pontefract & Castleford Express. Story: Plans for a new development off Flass Lane, Glasshoughton, which include 560 homes, is expected to be approved by Wakefield council. L to R) Cllrs Denise Jeffrey, Kathryn Scott and Jacquie Speight. Photo date: 26/08/15 Picture Ref: AB190b0815

Developer Harworth Estates has submitted a planning application to build the homes, together with a pub restaurant and offices on land just off Flass Lane.

Wakefield Council’s planning and highways committee is expected to grant outline permission for the development along with full permission for remediation works at the site at a meeting next week.

Coun Denise Jeffery, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and deputy leader, said: “We have been working on this application for some time and working on the redevelopment of the pit for about 14 years.

“If approved, this development could really transform the Castleford area.

“It means new people coming to live in the town, further investment in our area and is another piece of the jigsaw in terms of redeveloping Castleford.”

Remediation works on the site are expected to get underway within weeks if approved at the meeting on Thursday, September 3.

The whole scheme could be complete within eight years.

Coun Jeffery said: “If permission is granted the developers want to get started straight away which is great.

“Housing is at the heart of regeneration and this scheme is fantastic for our area.”

The proposals are part of the £4m Glass Houghton Southern Link Road, which would run from Flass Lane to Colorado Way. Coun Jeffery said an application for the road is expected to be submitted once the homes are built.