Wakefield Council Rejects Major Development Over Traffic Fears
Wakefield Council has refused planning permission for a proposed business park and approximately 100 homes on farmland adjacent to the M1 motorway. The decision came after significant local opposition and concerns about the impact on the road network.
Local Opposition and Environmental Concerns
More than 2,500 residents signed a petition against the scheme, with 616 submitting formal objections. The development, planned for a 22-hectare site at Broad Cut Farm in Calder Grove, faced criticism for potentially increasing congestion and causing the loss of green space described as the city's 'green lungs'.
Jonathan Power, chair of the Broad Cut Against Development action group, stated at a council meeting: "The vast majority of local residents are vehemently opposed to this application. There are no benefits to the local community." He argued the development would not deliver the promised high-skilled jobs but would worsen traffic problems near junction 39 of the M1.
Developer's Economic Arguments
AAA Property Group, the applicant, claimed the development would create over 700 "high quality" jobs, contribute around £40 million annually to the local economy, and help meet housing targets. Director Amar Chima emphasized the site had been identified as a "future growth location" by both Wakefield Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
"Wakefield has long been recognised as a strategically important location for development," Chima told councillors. "This proposal responds directly to that demand and will deliver an advanced manufacturing hub to support Wakefield's economic strategy."
Council Decision and Political Support for Rejection
Despite planning officers recommending approval based on "no technical reasons" to refuse, councillors on the planning and highways committee voted 7-2 to reject the scheme on highways grounds. They determined the development would have a "severe" impact on local roads.
The decision received support from local councillors, Jade Botterill (MP for Ossett and Denby Dale), Crigglestone Parish Council, and Wakefield Civic Society, all of whom had objected to the plans.
Developer's Commitment and Future Implications
Chima described AAA Property Group as a "local family business" committed to reinvesting in the district. "We are fully committed to delivering the best possible scheme at Broad Cut Farm to maximise the benefits for the local area," he said.
The rejection highlights ongoing tensions between economic development goals and infrastructure capacity in Wakefield, setting a precedent for future planning decisions in the region.
