Peel Land sets out Hurstwood resi ambitions

Having agreed a long-term lease at its Doncaster Sheffield Airport asset, the developer has set in motion plans for up to 1,800 homes within the residential part of the local masterplan.

As set out in an online consultation that is now live and running until 1 December, the initial proposal for a residential allocation was set out in 2018, in the Doncaster Sheffield Airport Masterplan.

This was then incorporated into the Doncaster Local Plan, which states that depending on the density of proposals, the Hurstwood site could accommodate between 1,400 and 1,800 homes.

However, the local plan does dictate that after the first 280 homes, no housing should be delivered until more jobs are created in the area – which in effect, means wider development across the employment land portions of the South Yorkshire Airport City/Gateway East area.

Peel’s intention is to submit two planning applications. The first will include 1,200 homes, but would “mirror the Local Plan” in conforming with the existing policy.

The second would, in Peel’s words “provide an alternative proposition” and set out plans for a wider range of tenures: later-living, build-to-rent housing, affordable homes. It will propose that new housing should be delivered along with or slightly ahead of the new jobs.

Peel, which closed the airport in 2022, said that existing woodland and hedgerows within the Hurstwood site boundary will remain, with open spaces linking through to these natural assets. Active travel corridors will be introduced.

Initially, access would be from Hurst Lane, towards the roundabout with Great Yorkshire Way, with further access points added as the scheme progresses in a southward direction.

The residential area sits to the west of the airport itself – where the local council now has a deal with an operator lined up, and hopes for flights to resume in 2026 – with zones for business space between the homes and the airport.

These are the innovation zone, consented in 2020 as a general employment area, and the Central Plaza area, which is to house retail, F&B, community and office uses.

The consultation can be viewed in full here.