The Doncaster Council Planning Committee was scheduled to meet on 29 July 2025 to discuss a schedule of planning applications and appeal decisions. The committee, led by Councillor Majid Khan, was expected to consider applications for residential units, a bloodstock sales complex, and a detached dwelling, among other items. This article summarises the proposals that the committee was scheduled to discuss, based on the information contained in the meeting agenda and report pack.

Land off Alverley Lane, Balby (22/02396/FULM)

The committee was scheduled to discuss a full planning application for 186 residential units (class C3[^2]), associated car parking, garages, vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access and infrastructure, public open space, landscaping, a pumping station, foul and surface water drainage infrastructure and biodiversity enhancements, with vehicular access from Alverley Lane.

The application site comprises an agricultural field which has been allocated for housing in the recently adopted Doncaster Local Plan in September 2021, specifically site allocation Ref. MUA48. The site is 6.59ha in area and is located to the south of Alverley Lane.

The report pack noted that the proposal makes provision for a variety of house types with the mix of size, type and tenure summarised below:

A) Market Housing Total = 143 dwellings

15 no. x 2 bedroom 71 no. x 3 bedroom 57 no. x 4 bedroom

B) Affordable Housing = 43 dwellings

Affordable Rent dwelling: 8 x 1 bedroom 16 x 2 bedroom 8 x 3 bedroom

Shared Ownership/Affordable Sale: 6 x 2 bedroom 5 x 3 bedroom

The report pack stated that the proposal complies with all Local Plan policy requirements in terms of Affordable Housing, Public Open Space, Travel Bonds, Bus Stop Improvements, and Biodiversity Net Gain.

The committee previously deferred determination of the application for a site visit to assess the impact on the highway and the layout of the proposed off site highway works.

The report pack stated that there was now a total of 126 objections from 74 addresses, 3 of these objections have been submitted since the publishing of the committee reports. The objections raise concerns relating to the allocation of the land, the pedestrian and vehicle highway safety/impact, issues with the signalisation, loss of habitat, lack of capacity in local services, impact to local amenity during construction, lack of green space provided, planning history of the site, water capacity, flooding and non-material considerations i.e. landownership and issues with immigration. One resident raised concerns that the site visit would not take place when the schools are open.

Councillor Ioan-Emanuel Crăciun, a ward member, and Mr Andrew Gregory, a local resident, were scheduled to speak in opposition of the application. Mr Stephen Courcier, agent, and Mr Adam Bradley, highways consultant, were scheduled to speak in support of the application. Mr Ben Hunter, education consultant, was scheduled to be available to answer any questions relating to school place provision on behalf of the applicant.

Land to East of Goffs UK, Sandall Beat Road (24/02333/4FULM)

The agenda included a discussion of the change of use of public open space to form an extension to the Goffs UK bloodstock sales complex, enclosing a 1.14 ha parcel of land with a 2.2m high boundary fence together with associated landscaping.

The report pack noted that Goffs UK do not have the required number of stables to cater for the number of horses on sales days, and that horses are moved between the sales complex and Doncaster Racecourse several times of day. The proposal seeks to address this issue, providing a secure enclosure where temporary stabling facilities can be erected, to accommodate the existing demand for horse stabling on sales days, and to improve the welfare of the horses and decrease vehicle movements between the sales complex and the racecourse.

The report pack stated that the proposal would bring significant benefits to the wider Doncaster economy through the retention and expansion of the existing business operation in the Doncaster area, and that no trees would be removed and a landscaping scheme comprising 29 new trees is proposed as part of a comprehensive landscaping and ecological enhancement scheme.

The report pack also stated that the development would result in the loss of 1.14 hectares of informal recreation land at Sandall Beat playing fields designated as Open Space in the Doncaster Local Plan, and that public consultation has indicated local opposition to the loss of the open space. A financial contribution of £20,000 is proposed towards public open space improvement measures at Sandall Beat Woods and playing fields.

Mr Paul Wray, a local resident, and Councillor Jane Kidd, a ward member for Wheatley Hills & Intake, were scheduled to speak in opposition of the application. Ms Caroline Nutsford of Iceni Projects, agent, and Mr Tim Kent of Goffs UK, applicant, were scheduled to speak in support of the application.

The report pack noted that one additional representation has been received from a member of the public (objecting). Points raised include:

• This is public open space used for many years for dog walking, playing with children & other recreation activities. Activities on the site promote community integration.
• Horse racing promotes animal cruelty and the Council shouldn't be supporting it. We should not be losing open space to promote this sport. The business and tourism support to the area may be a benefit but if we allow this to happen it shows that money is worth more than the precious life of an animal.
• Horses produce methane emissions which are not good for the environment or local residents.

The report pack stated that an updated Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) including a tree protection plan has subsequently been submitted by the Applicant to address the requirements of Condition 3, a pre-commencement condition, and that the AMS has been reviewed and confirmed as satisfactory by the Council's Tree Officer. Consequently, Condition 3 in the report may be amended to a compliance condition to ensure implementation of the tree protection measures set out in the revised AMS.

Land East of Guelder Cottage, West End Road, Norton (24/01453/REM)

The committee was scheduled to discuss the details of access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale of design for a detached dwelling and garage on 0.03 hectares of land, being matters reserved in outline application granted permission under 21/02978/OUT on 23.08.2022.

The report pack stated that the principle of residential development of the application site for one detached house and garage has already been established through the grant of outline planning permission by the Planning Inspectorate, and that the current application therefore only seeks approval for the reserved matters being appearance, means of access, landscaping, layout and scale, and that matters of principle cannot be reassessed or resisted at this stage.

The report pack stated that the development would not cause any unacceptable level of harm to the character and appearance of the area by virtue of its layout, scale, appearance and landscaping, that residential amenity would remain protected as a result of the layout and appearance of the proposal and that highway safety would be ensured through the detailed access and layout arrangements proposed.

The report pack also stated that other technical matters pertaining to drainage, ecology and contamination were all subject to specific conditions imposed on the outline planning permission and those details are required to be discharged separately to comply with that outline permission, but do not form part of the reserved matters themselves and therefore are not issues the current application can be assessed against, and that there is no requirement for those details to be assessed or determined in parallel with the reserved matters.

Alison McCardle, Clerk of Norton Parish Council, had requested to speak in opposition of the application.

Appeal Decisions

The committee was scheduled to note appeal decisions received from the planning inspectorate. The report pack included copies of the relevant decision letters for information. The decisions related to the following applications:

• 22/00544/M - Appeal against enforcement action for alleged unauthorised breach of condition 3 of application 20/02408/FUL - property rendered under grounds (a) at 35 Melton Road, Sprotbrough. The enforcement appeal was allowed, and the enforcement notice quashed.
• 23/02173/COU - Change of use of agricultural land to a caravan site, to provide 6 plots for residential accommodation for Gypsy/Traveller Families at Land Adjacent To Stainforth Allotments, Stainforth. The appeal was dismissed.
• 24/00670/PRIOR - Notification to determine if prior approval is required for conversion of an agricultural building into two dwellings at The Smallholding, Common Lane, Norton. The appeal was dismissed.
• 23/00170/M - Appeal against enforcement action for the alleged unauthorised change of use of campsite and amenity block to garden and ancillary granny annex at Mawson Green Cottage, Sykehouse. The enforcement appeal was dismissed, and the enforcement notice upheld.
• 24/01352/OUT - Outline application for the erection of 2 dwellings on land between no. 18 and no. 16 Halifax Avenue, Conisbrough. The appeal was dismissed.
• 24/00535/PRIOR - Notification to determine if prior approval is required for change of use of agricultural building to residential dwelling, with associated external works at Green Barn, Adjacent Bank House, Oak Lane, Sykehouse. The appeal was dismissed.
• 24/01365/FUL - Erection of industrial/workshop units with associated parking at Yard Office, Skellow Grange Working Mens Club Saloon, Skellow Road, Skellow. The appeal was dismissed.
• 24/00964/FUL - Erection of detached light industrial building on previously developed land at Land Adjacent To Hunters Cottage, Wellgate, Conisbrough. The appeal was allowed.
• 24/00966/OUT - Outline application for the erection of a two-storey commercial retail building and the erection of a two-storey short term rental tourist accommodation building at Hunters Cottage, Wellgate, Conisbrough. The appeal was allowed.
• 24/00965/OUT - Outline application for the erection of a dwelling and garage at Hunters Cottage, Wellgate, Conisbrough. The appeal was allowed.
• 24/01529/COU - Change of Use from Dwelling House (Class C3) to Children's Home (Class C2) for up to 4 children - Appeal against condition 4 of planning application 24/01529/COU at Moorville, Marshland Road, Moorends. The appeal was allowed.
• 21/00371/M - Appeal against enforcement action for alleged unauthorised building works under grounds (A) at Former Whitehall Motors, Askern Road, Toll Bar. The enforcement appeal was dismissed, and the enforcement notice upheld.
• 22/01854/OUT - Outline application for the erection of 4 two storey dwellings, 1 detached double garage & the formation of a new private drive at Hillcrest, Doncaster Road, Branton. The appeal was dismissed.
• 24/00535/PRIOR - Notification to determine if prior approval is required for change of use of agricultural building to residential dwelling, with associated external works at Green Barn, Adjacent Bank House, Oak Lane, Sykehouse. The appeal was dismissed.
• 24/01365/FUL - Erection of industrial/workshop units with associated parking at Yard Office, Skellow Grange Working Mens Club Saloon, 223 Skellow Road, Skellow. The appeal was dismissed.
• 24/00964/FUL - Erection of detached light industrial building on previously developed land at Land Adjacent To Hunters Cottage, Wellgate, Conisbrough. The appeal was allowed.
• 24/00966/OUT - Outline application for the erection of a two-storey commercial retail building and the erection of a two-storey short term rental tourist accommodation building at Hunters Cottage, Wellgate, Conisbrough. The appeal was allowed.
• 24/00965/OUT - Outline application for the erection of a dwelling and garage (approval being sought for landscaping and layout) at Hunters Cottage, Wellgate, Conisbrough. The appeal was allowed.
• 24/01529/COU - Change of Use from Dwelling House (Class C3) to Children's Home (Class C2) for up to 4 children - Appeal against condition 4 of planning application 24/01529/COU at Moorville, Marshland Road, Moorends. The appeal was allowed.
• 21/00371/M - Appeal against enforcement action for alleged unauthorised building works under grounds (A) at Former Whitehall Motors, Askern Road, Toll Bar. The enforcement appeal was dismissed, and the enforcement notice upheld.
• 22/01854/OUT - Outline application for the erection of 4 two storey dwellings, 1 detached double garage & the formation of a new private drive at Hillcrest, Doncaster Road, Branton. The appeal was dismissed.