Plan for more controversial housing causes concern

Barratt Homes wants to build 160 homes off Cobblers Lane, a development they say will cost £19.5m and create 76 construction jobs.

Wakefield Council granted outline planning permission for 320 homes to be built at the site in 2013, despite more than 120 objections to the proposals.

And plans for first 160 homes - and for a neighbouring housing estate with 183 properties - were given the go-ahead last year.

Councillors and campaigners raised concerns including additional traffic and congestion and the safety of children at nearby Holy Family and St Michael’s Catholic Primary School and Cobblers Lane Primary School.

Pontefract North councillor Clive Tennant said phase two of the development raised “the same concerns”.

He said: “The road infrastructure round the site needs improving before any further development takes place.

“The amount of additional vehicles that will be using the Cobblers Lane and Knottingley Road junction warrants traffic lights being installed there.

“The road is already saturated particularly around drop off and pick up times for the two schools and the safety of pedestrians and road users is a worry.

“Some affordable housing is going to be put on the site which is definitely required but we need the infrastructure in place first of all.”

Developer Barratt Homes said it hoped to be on site in autumn this year.

A spokesperson said: “Our scheme will bring a mix of two and three bed semi-detached units and three and four bed detached units.

“The scheme also brings significant local benefits including 14 per cent on site affordable housing, off site highways contributions, education contributions, a bus stop contribution and localised road improvements which are currently being implemented by our development partner, Avant Homes, who is already on site.”