We call on Barnsley Council and the relevant planning decision-makers to reject the proposed development of approximately 400 homes on land off Mary Street and Coronation Road, Barugh Green, and to protect the area’s green space, wildlife, landscape and existing community infrastructure.

 Barratt Homes is proposing around 400 new homes on land in Barugh Green, with access through Mary Street and Coronation Road. The proposal raises serious questions about whether the existing area and infrastructure can safely support a development of this scale. Concerns include increased traffic and road safety, pressure on Barugh Green Primary School and SEND provision, GP and healthcare capacity, emergency services, drainage and flood risk, sewage and utilities, parking, public transport, air quality and noise from the M1, the impact on wildlife and green space, the overhead pylon/electricity infrastructure, and the site’s history of former mining and potential mine workings, ground stability and mine gas. We are calling for all of these issues, including the cumulative impact of other development in the area, to be fully investigated and publicly addressed before any planning application progresses.

Our concerns include:

🚗 Roads & traffic

Around 400 new homes could generate a substantial increase in vehicle movements on the existing local road network. We are particularly concerned about the proposed access through Mary Street and Coronation Road, including congestion, pedestrian safety, parking and emergency access.

🏫 School capacity

Barugh Green Primary School currently has a published capacity of 315 pupils, with 263 pupils on roll.

Approximately 400 additional homes could create significant additional demand for local school places. We want the developer to demonstrate what additional school capacity would be required, where it would be provided and how SEND provision would be accommodated.

🩺 Healthcare

The development would bring hundreds of additional households into an area already served by existing local healthcare infrastructure. We are calling for an assessment of the additional demand on GP, dental, pharmacy and other healthcare services, and evidence that adequate capacity exists.

⛏️ Historic mining & ground conditions

The area has a history of coal mining and former mining activity. Given previous development proposals in the wider area have raised issues concerning ground conditions and mine gas, we want a full independent investigation of historic mine workings, mine entries, ground stability and mine-gas risk for this specific site before residential development is approved.

🌧️ Drainage & flood risk

Approximately 400 homes would introduce a substantial amount of additional roof, road, driveway and other hard surface area. We want a detailed assessment of surface-water drainage, sewer capacity and flood risk, including the potential impact on existing homes.

🛣️ M1 proximity, noise & air quality

The proposed development sits immediately alongside the M1 motorway. We are calling for comprehensive assessments of motorway-related noise and air quality, including the impact on homes, gardens, public open space and the proposed children’s play area.

⚡ Electricity infrastructure

The developer’s own plans identify overhead electricity infrastructure crossing/alongside the site. We want confirmation that all required safety clearances, easements and infrastructure requirements have been properly assessed and incorporated into the design.

🌳 Wildlife, habitats & green space

Development would permanently change an existing greenfield site. We want a full ecological assessment identifying existing habitats and wildlife and clearly demonstrating what would be lost, what would be retained and what genuine biodiversity improvements would be delivered.

🏘️ Cumulative development

This proposal must not be considered in isolation. Barugh Green and the surrounding area are already experiencing significant development pressure.

We are calling for the cumulative impact of existing, approved and proposed developments to be assessed, including the combined effect on roads, schools, healthcare, drainage, utilities, emergency services and the environment.

 

What we are asking for

We are not asking for concerns to be dismissed or for development to be assessed on the basis of assumptions.

We are asking Barratt Homes and Barnsley Council to:

1. Fully investigate the above issues before the proposal progresses.

2. Make the relevant technical assessments available for public scrutiny.

3. Demonstrate that adequate infrastructure can support the additional population.

4. Properly assess the cumulative impact of development in the Barugh Green area.

5. Ensure that the concerns of existing residents are meaningfully considered before any planning application is determined.

This is not simply about building houses. It is about making sure that the roads, schools, healthcare, drainage, environment and infrastructure that already serve Barugh Green can cope with the scale of development being proposed.