Homes plan approved despite hundreds of objections

Plans to build more than 100 homes in a West Yorkshire village have been approved despite 500 objections being lodged against the scheme.

Wakefield Council's planning committee voted in favour of an application to build 126 homes in Crofton by a majority of five to two at a meeting on Thursday.

Residents, councillors and the area's MP campaigned for more than two years to stop the project off Santingley Lane, which had eight comments in support.

Rachael Martin, a planning agent speaking on behalf of developer Miller Homes, said the application delivered "a high quality sustainable scheme".

Those opposed to the plans said the village was already "saturated" by other housing developments in the area, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Concerns were also raised over an increase in traffic and the development being prone to flooding.

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of residents against the plan, Maureen Cummings, councillor for Crofton, Ryhill and Walton, said the area was "already operating at the very limits of its capacity".

She said: "The morning rush, the afternoon return, the school runs and the weekend bustle each bring their own set of challenges - extended queues, frustrated drivers and a risk to pedestrian safety that cannot be ignored."

Cummings said sewage systems in the area, constructed in the 1960s, were "showing their age".

Simon Bennett, from Crofton Parish Council, said the project was one of many housing schemes to be built in the village in recent years.

"It is our consideration that Crofton is now bigger than some towns in the UK," he said.

"Nothing has been done in the 47 years I have lived in Crofton to the road network to accommodate additional development."

Council planning officers said there were "no technical reasons to withhold planning permission".

Ms Martin said a new draining system would be installed to serve the homes and that Yorkshire Water had raised no objections.

She added the scheme was supported by a transport assessment which said the impact of traffic generated on the road network was acceptable.

Councillors were also told a condition of granting planning consent included the developer being required to make financial contributions towards local infrastructure.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.