The Rotherham Council Planning Board is scheduled to meet on Thursday 25 September 2025, to consider several planning applications and updates. The meeting will cover a range of development proposals, including changes of use, extensions, and alterations to existing buildings. Members of the public have a right to speak on planning applications.

Development Proposals

The Planning Board will be considering several development proposals at the meeting:

• Dog Walking Paddocks and Training Facility The board will consider a retrospective application for the change of use of land to dog walking paddocks and a training facility, including an extended car parking area at 4 Blackamoor Road in Swinton for Invictus Squad. The application is being presented to the board due to the number of objections received. The application site is allocated as Green Belt in the Local Plan. The applicant has submitted a planning statement to address concerns about noise, clarifying that dog walking rounds are limited to a maximum of 10 dogs, and a stay and play service is limited to 15 dogs. A noise impact assessment and a highway survey have also been submitted. The planning statement notes that noise complaints have previously been investigated (Ref: B24060) and on 10 May 2022 the council closed the case having concluded that there was no statutory nuisance from dog barking or noise generally from the business premises. Representations in support of the plans note that the facility assists dog lovers in the local community, provides a friendly, professional and essential service which assists in the training of dogs, and that no noise issues are experienced. Representations objecting to the plans raise concerns about car parking problems, the noise survey being based on a one day survey, the business being disruptive to residents, the site being too close to residential properties, and potential dangers to small children walking past.

• Children's Care Home The board will consider an application for a change of use from a residential building annexe (use Class C3¹) to a children's care home (Use Class C2²) with widening to vehicular access including demolition and rebuild of section of front boundary wall and alterations to entrance gates at 17 Crowgate South Anston for Mr Hallam. The application is being presented to the board due to the number of objections received. The applicant has submitted a supporting statement with regard to the proposed operation of the children's home, noting that each staff member works 48 hours straight, with shift changes after 10:00 AM to avoid peak traffic, and that there are always two staff members on-site, providing 24-hour support. Representations objecting to the proposals raise concerns about noise and disturbance, loss of privacy, increased traffic, the change to character of the area, devaluation of property, concerns regarding anti-social behaviour and drug use, security and boundary issues, and the change of use not being appropriate in a Conservation Area³. Anston Parish Council have submitted objections noting that Crowgate is a narrow road heavily used by articulated lorries at peak times, that increased vehicle movements from staff shift changes and visitors would worsen existing danger, and that sharing a narrow access between a private dwelling and a children's care home raises serious safeguarding concerns for vulnerable residents and is wholly unsuitable. A letter of support has been received which states that the applicants are offering a provision to support a child in need addressing gaps in the social care system, and asking whether opposition to this is inadvertently suggesting limiting the growth of families or car ownership on Crowgate.

• Heating Pipework Alterations The board will consider a retrospective application for alterations to existing heating pipework and ancillary pipework bridges at Wickersley School And Sports College on Bawtry Road in Wickersley for Equans. The application is being presented to the board due to earlier concerns raised regarding the visual appearance of the proposal. The pipe work acts as a direct heating system that operates block A, B and H. The pipe bridge located between Block B and the boiler house to the south of the application site has a total height of 4.08m from ground level to the top of the pipe. A faux green foliage is wrapped around the pipe work. A letter of representation has been received noting that the pipework is an ugly feature covered in plastic trellis, visible over neighbours fence, overshadows neighbours garden, and could have been located further down the yard where nobody is affected.

• Holiday Let Change of Use The board will consider a retrospective application for a change of use from C3 dwellinghouse to Sui Generis⁴ holiday let including first floor balcony at 503 Herringthorpe Valley Road in Broom for C Welling. The application is being presented to the board due to the number of objections received. The application has been submitted by a short Planning Supporting Statement which notes that it is envisaged that the amount of development on this site will not adversely affect the surrounding area as it is limited to a well screened balcony and a single occupancy short term holiday let. Representations objecting to the proposals raise concerns about the transient nature of visitors, high noise impact, the use of the balcony further exacerbating the intrusion and disturbance to surrounding properties, this being a commercial use within a long established residential area, and increased traffic congestion.

• Roof Height Increase The board will consider an application for an increase in roof height including dormer windows to front & rear and extensions to front, side and rear at 2 Almond Glade in Wickersley for AA2 Properties Ltd. The application is being presented to the board due to the number of objections received. The ridge height of the dwelling will be increased from 5.4m to 7.8m. The proposal will incorporate a dutch hipped roof design which is considered to be suitable for a dormer bungalow. Representations objecting to the proposals note that previous applications have been refused, and raise concerns about overlooking, the excessive size not being in keeping with the street scene, the overbearing nature, the loss of natural vegetation, and the proposal being totally out of proportion with the other dwellings in the street scene.

Other Business

The agenda also includes:

• Minutes from the Previous Meeting: The board will review and approve the minutes from the meeting held on 14 August 2025. The minutes from the previous meeting include discussion of an application for the erection of three dwellings at 17 Green Street, Greasbrough for Mr. M. Millar, demolition of existing dwelling and erection of two storey detached dwelling with detached dormer bungalow to rear including installation of flue and alterations to existing vehicular access at 9 Moat Lane, Wickersley for Mr. T. Townend, change of use from bank (Use Class E⁵) to House in Multiple Occupation (HMO⁶) for up to 8 people (Use Class Sui Generis) with boundary wall/railings to front and bin/cycle store and parking area to rear at 43 High Street, Swallownest for Bilham Developments Ltd, and erection of 3 storey building comprising of 9 No. Residential Flats, including alterations to the existing first and second floor front elevation and storage rooms in roof space at 17A Shelley Road, Herringthorpe for Mr. S. Hussain.

• Deferments/Site Visits: The board will consider any requests for deferments or site visits related to the planning applications. The deferments document notes that planning applications which have been reported on the Planning Board Agenda should not be deferred on request without justification, and lists justifications for deferring a decision. The deferments document also includes information about site visits, noting that site visits should only be considered necessary if the impact of the proposed development is difficult to assess from the application plans and supporting information provided with the officer's written report, if the application is particularly contentious or the application has an element that cannot be adequately expressed in writing by the applicant or objector.