New homes ‘ could face smells and M62 noise’

WAKEFIELD COUNCIL has given backing to early plans for a 230home housing development in Normanton, despite serious concerns around noise and odour problems.

Outline planning permission had been sought by developer Bramley & Arthur to build up to 232 new homes on land off Mill Lane.

The proposals had been recommended for approval in a Wakefield Council planning report but, at a meeting, councillors were concerned that a nearby water- treatment works could cause odour problems for residents, while its proximity to the M62 could lead to complaints about noise.

A council official told the authority’s Planning and Highways Committee that issues of smells and noise would be dealt with at a later stage of the plans, known as reserved matters, and that the outline plan was only to decide whether houses should go on the site.

However, councillors said more detail was needed from developers, with some questioning whether the site was suitable for housing if the issues were not properly dealt with.

Coun Elaine Blezard ( Lab) said: “With the water- treatment works, I live about a mile away and I can smell it. I would like to know details of how they are going to stop that smell.”

A Wakefield Council official told the meeting: “Nothing has been submitted with this application in terms of an odour survey and Yorkshire Water did object to the indicative layout because the houses were quite close to a boundary.”

She said an odour survey and further details on the scheme would be submitted in a later form of the plans.

The scheme was passed by 11 votes, with none against. Three councillors abstained.

The details will be decided at a reserved matters meeting in the coming months.