Homes approved despite residents' wildlife concerns

Plans to build 151 canalside homes in Wakefield have been approved despite narrowboat residents warning councillors over the loss of wildlife habitats.

The application for a site next to the Aire and Calder Navigation forms part of the wider City Fields development, which will see about 2,500 homes built as the expansion to the east of the city is completed.

One narrowboat resident, Kathryn Pybus, urged councillors to reject the plan: "Cramming 151 houses onto that narrow strip of land will result in the vast majority of the natural habitat on site being destroyed."

But the application was approved after five members of the planning and highways committee voted in favour and five abstained.

During the meeting on Thursday at Wakefield Town Hall, Stanley Ferry boat site resident Pybus had told councillors that Yorkshire Wildlife Trust had also lodged an objection to the proposals due to a "lack of up-to-date wildlife surveys".

She added: "Councils have a legal duty to protect and restore nature.

"To abide by wildlife laws, and local and national policies, this application needs to be rejected."

Lisa Hudson, another Stanley Ferry boat site resident, told the meeting the area had been a "hotspot" for wildlife when she moved to the area in 2016.

"I no longer have bats flying over my boat. I no longer see grass snakes. I no longer see swifts. Where have they gone?" she asked.

"The development has affected our county's wildlife, and it has affected the water table."

Pybus told councillors the impact "should force you to take notice" and mitigation "should have commenced years ago".

"You knew that project was vast, you should be ashamed of yourselves," she said.

Yubi Ayub, councillor for the Wakefield East ward, said residents had repeatedly raised concerns about the increasing loss of green space, the continued absence of promised local facilities and the growing pressure on roads and other infrastructure.

An independent ecologist had concluded that the development "could cause ecological harm at a county level", Ayub said.

A range of one to four-bedroom homes are planned for the site, along with four vehicle access routes to the 17 acre (seven hectare) site.

Car parking, garages, drainage infrastructure, pedestrian and cycles access, a new public open space and landscaping are also planned to serve future residents.

Five objections to the scheme were submitted ahead of the meeting, with residents citing concerns over the impact on nearby nature reserves, including the Southern Washlands and Stanley Ferry Flash.

Objectors also said the scheme would add pressure to local road networks and that there was a lack of essential infrastructure and services in the area to accommodate more homes.

No comments of support for the application were submitted.

The application was the fourth in a series aimed at delivering housing on land owned by Wakefield Council.

The local authority owns about 60 acres (24 hectares) of 375 acres (152 hectares) of land earmarked for development at City Fields, but it now plans to sell the site to a developer to deliver the project.

Gavin Winter, speaking on behalf of the council, said the scheme formed part of a masterplan and was required to meet local housing targets.

A report said any developer would be required to make a Biodiversity Net Gain financial contribution of £956,500 to compensate for the loss of habitat units.

Further payments would also be required to provide more primary and secondary education places in the area and to support sustainable transport.

A planning officer's report said: "The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in principle and, subject to the imposition of planning conditions, there are considered to be no technical reasons to withhold planning permission."

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