Plans for 80 new homes set to be approved

Plans to build 80 homes on an area of council-owned land in West Yorkshire have been recommended for approval.

The proposed scheme would be the third phase of development on land earmarked for development in City Fields, to the east of Wakefield.

About 2,500 homes are expected to be built in the area when work is completed.

Planning officers have recommended councillors give the go-ahead for the new homes to be built across seven hectares of grassland off Neil Fox Way, despite 24 objections.

The site is adjacent to Linton Road on the city's Eastmoor estate, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Plans include building a range of of one to four-bedroom properties, 16 of which are described as "affordable homes."

Wakefield Council plans to sell the site to a private developer to complete the project if the scheme is approved.

Those opposed to the scheme raised concerns about the impact on wildlife habitats.

A report said: "Objectors have stated that there are a number of species that live within the proposed development area, including deer, fox, badger, hedgehogs, horses, all of whom live amongst the fields, grasses and undergrowth and that it is essential local biodiversity and wildlife is protected."

Addressing the concerns, the report said the council's ecologist "raises no objection in principle" to the development.

Councillors were recommended to attach a condition when granting approval to the scheme to make any developer be required to contribute £822,000 towards "biodiversity net gain".

The sum would be part of a section 106 legal agreement which developers are required to pay when they build homes to help fund local infrastructure.

Councillors have also been advised to request £392,000 to fund primary and secondary school places in the area and almost £99,000 to improve transport links, including a new bus service.

The plans are due to be considered at a meeting on 23 January.

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