Plans approved to build 73 homes on farmland next to West Yorkshire nature reserve
Plans to build 73 homes on farmland next to a West Yorkshire nature reserve have been given the go-ahead.
Wakefield Council approved the proposals for the two-hectare former greenbelt site off Lingwell Gate Lane, in Lofthouse.
Plans submitted by Avant Homes include a range of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties, including 22 “affordable homes.”
The scheme also involves demolishing a bungalow and other outbuildings which occupy part of the site.
The land was removed from the green belt and allocated for housing when the council introduced a new Local Plan in 2024.
The site is opposite Junction 41 Industrial Estate and next to the Virginia Close and Virginia Court housing developments.
It is also close to protected grazing land, a railway line and the Lofthouse Colliery nature reserve.
Part of the site has been assessed as being at high risk from surface water flooding but the developer plans to raise ground levels to address the issue.
A planning statement submitted by the company said: “The development supports sustainable growth, contributes to the local economy, addresses housing needs, and complies with environmental regulations to reduce carbon emissions.
“It is strategically positioned to benefit both the new residents and the broader community of Outwood and Stanley.”
A total of 44 people objected to the scheme and the council received one comment of support.
Opponents raised concerns about the potential impact on wildlife habitats and the loss of green space in the area.
It was also claimed future residents would be affected by noise from the nearby industrial estate.
A planning officer’s report said the scheme was “considered to constitute sustainable development.”
The officer added: “The proposed development is acceptable in principle and, subject to the imposition of planning conditions and a legal agreement, there are considered to be no technical reasons to withhold planning permission.”