The Doncaster Council Planning Committee met on 26 August 2025, and approved the acquisition of land for an active travel scheme, a mental health support service contract, and an increase to weekly living allowances for young people in care. The committee also approved a planning application for residential units, deferred a decision on an extension to a bloodstock sales complex, and approved reserved matters for a detached dwelling and garage.

Goffs UK Extension

The Planning Committee deferred a decision for a site visit on application 24/02333/4FULM, regarding the change of use of public open space to form an extension to Goffs UK bloodstock sales complex on Sandall Beat Road. The plan includes erecting a boundary fence enclosure and associated landscaping.

The application had been deferred for a site visit to assess the potential loss of public open space and its connection with the local community.

The proposal seeks to address a shortage of permanent stabling facilities at the Goffs UK bloodstock sales complex by providing a secure enclosure where temporary stabling facilities can be erected under permitted development rights for less than 28 days in a calendar year. The proposal seeks to accommodate the existing demand for horse stabling on sales days and improve the welfare of the horses and decrease vehicle movements between the sales complex and the racecourse.

During the meeting, the committee heard from Mr Paul Wray, a local resident, Councillor Jane Kidd, a ward member, Ms Caroline Nutsford, an agent, and Mr Tim Kent, the Goffs UK applicant.

The committee also received additional consultation responses, including one from a member of the public objecting to the application. Concerns raised included the loss of public open space used for recreation, the promotion of animal cruelty, and potential methane emissions from horses.

The officer's report noted 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. A financial contribution of £23,000 is proposed by the applicant towards public open space improvement measures at Sandall Beat Woods and playing fields.

The report also noted that the South Yorkshire Police Designing Out Crime Officer strongly recommended a security rated perimeter fence, considering it commensurate to the risk of housing highly valuable livestock.

The officer's report concluded:

On balance, it remains the view of officers that the substantial benefits brought to the wider Doncaster economy through the retention and expansion of the existing Goffs business in the Borough, together with the modest compensation improvements to the remaining Sandall Beat playing fields and woodland, outweighs the harm caused by the loss of this part of the wider open space in this instance.

Land off Alverley Lane, Balby

The committee approved planning permission for application 22/02396/FULM for 186 residential units, 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, Balby.

The decision was subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement¹ and the imposition of planning conditions, including:

• 23% affordable housing units
• £28,950.90 travel plan bond
• Commuted sum for maintenance of signals (10 years)
• £6,000 signals revalidation
• Bus service improvements (£30,162 for bus stop facilities, £73,500 for bus service improvements)
• £50,000 for a scheme in relation to Green Belt compensatory improvements
• Transfer to management company of public open space (to be delivered on site)
• Biodiversity net gain offsite project or a contribution for 3.07 habitat units and 0.98 hedgerow units.

The committee heard from Mr Andrew Gregory, a local resident who spoke in opposition to the application, and Mr Stephen Courcier, an agent, and Mr Adam Bradley, a highways consultant, who spoke in support of the application.

Land East of Guelder Cottage, West End Road, Norton

The committee approved application 24/01243/REM for reserved matters including access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale of design for a proposed detached dwelling and garage on 0.03ha of land, being matters reserved in outline application previously granted permission under 21/02978/OUT.

Mr Michael Morgan from Norton Parish Council spoke in opposition to the application.

High View, School Walk, Old Edlington

The committee considered application 24/02284/COU for the change of use of a property from a residential dwelling to a residential children's home including external works to extend the existing driveway to allow sufficient parking and removal of entrance gate and wall at High View, School Walk, Old Edlington.

The officer's report noted that the principle of the change of use from a residential dwellinghouse to a Children's Care Home is acceptable in policy terms. The report also stated that the internal living space and private garden space is sufficient to accommodate the proposed use, and that the noise and activity associated with the proposal is acceptable and the amenity impact on neighbouring residents would not be demonstrably different or harmful.

The South Yorkshire Police Architectural Liaison Officer had requested physical security measures on the building, and stated that they would not support the application without a memorandum of understanding being signed. However, the officer's report noted a recent planning appeal decision that stated it was important to judge each case on its own merits in terms of what security measures might be necessary, particularly given that the property in question already had CCTV installed and the area was not in an area judged to be at heightened risk of crime.

The committee was informed that the Council's Environmental Health department had not raised any objections to the proposal from a residential amenity perspective.

The committee was also informed that the Council's Highways Development Control Officer supported the application with conditions applied securing the construction and retention of the vehicle turning space and parking area on site.

The committee was informed that the Council's Children, Young People and Families (Commissioning) department had no objection to the proposal.

The committee was informed that the Council's Ecologist had identified that the metric currently does not apply the grasscrete units correctly, which will need amending. But with these taken into account, the proposals should still deliver the minimum 10% net gain onsite.

The committee was informed that the Council's Conservation Officer had no objections.

The committee was informed that Phil Cole, a former ward councillor, had stated that the location of the facility does not appear a suitable location to house several young people, who presumably do not have their own transport, and that the location is a recipe for isolation and discontent.

The committee was informed that Rob Reid, a former ward councillor, had no comments.

The officer's report concluded:

Overall, the site is in a suitable location for a use of this kind, all relevant policy requirements are met, and there are no material considerations which indicate anything other than a grant of planning permission in this case. Therefore, and as required by paragraph 11(c) of the NPPF, the application should be approved without delay.

Appeal Decisions

The committee noted the appeal decisions that had been received from the planning inspectorate, including:

• Appeal Ref: APP/F4410/W/25/3362127, The former Star Inn Public House car park, The Star Inn, Moss Road, Moss, Askham, Doncaster DN6 0HQ - Appeal Dismissed
• Appeal Ref: APP/F4410/W/25/3362097, Forest View, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster DN10 6DF - Appeal Dismissed
• Appeal Ref: APP/F4410/W/25/3363235, Parcel of agricultural land (off Great North Road), to the north of Forest View, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster - Appeal Dismissed