Council to tackle developer over plan
ENFORCEMENT action could be taken against developers who started work on a Hemsworth housing estate without planning permission.
A meeting of Wakefield Council's planning committee heard, last Thursday, how Brittania Developments Ltd were not supposed to start work on 22 dwellings and 11 flats at Grove Lane until a section 106 agreement had been signed.
The agreement aims to secure the provision of affordable housing, and a contribution from developers towards education and public open space in the area.
But the meeting heard how the planning enforcement office had been inundated with objections since work started without planning consent, with fears over the work causing existing properties to subside, the safety of children during construction work and environmental health issues.
Speaking in support of residents at the meeting, local councillor Ian Womersley called for the decision on the application to be deferred.
He said: "Further discussions need to take place between the builders and the relevant officers.
"We need to make sure residents' properties are all right before development takes place."
But the meeting heard how deferring the matter would delay enforcement action, so committee members voted to approve the plans so that officers could visit the site to check the plans were being complied with as soon as possible.
The issue caused confusion among committee members in the county hall chamber, but upon receiving clarification on what would happen if the matter was deferred, they realised approval was the only option.
Coun Jacqui Williams said: "It is an enforcement issue.
"Why give them a few months to carry on digging?"
Committee members said they wanted enforcement officers on site within the week.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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