PLANNING ROUND-UP: Plans to create a solar farm the size of more than 160 football pitches are finally expected to be submitted to the council more than a year after they were announced.

The sprawling site off Engine Lane, Grimethorpe, will eventually generate enough power for the national grid to supply almost 23,000 homes. Enviromena, the clean energy solutions company behind the plans, says the solar farm will be created on three parcels of agricultural land.

And at the end of its 40-year operational life, the equipment will be removed, and recycled, with the entire site will be restored to its original form.

The plans were announced 12 months ago with the developers hoping to secure approval by the Spring. A formal planning application will now be submitted within the next few weeks.

Other planning news

PLANS to undertake a host of works at a Monk Bretton property have been approved by the council. An application for an extension, the relocation of a garage and the rebuilding of a garden wall on Burton Road were originally submitted in August. These plans were given the go-ahead by Barnsley Council’s planning department last week.

PLANNING permission is being sought to convert a unit in Cundy Cross. If approved, the work will take place on Rotherham Road at the Barnsley Plumbing Centre. The work will include forming an additional self-contained retail unit. A total of 51 neighbouring properties have been made aware of the plans with no appeals to date. Public consultation ends on February 16.

PLANS to undertake a host of works at a local boxing club have been approved by the council. The Grimethorpe and Cudworth Boxing Club also known as Hard and Fast, based on Barnsley Road in Cudworth, was the subject of the application which was submitted to the council in December. After plans were approved last week, the former windows will be reinstated as well as new door openings being created. The club was ran for many years by Fred Gummerson.

PLANS to repair and replace the front of a town centre hair salon have been approved by the council. An application was originally submitted in September for work to take place at Leslie Frances on Eldon Street. These plans were approved by the planning department earlier this week.

PLANS to convert a Worsbrough garage to allow for residential use have been approved by the council. An application was originally submitted in November for the work on Norman Close to take place. These plans were given the light by Barnsley Council’s planning board last week.

PLANNING permission is being sought to erect a two-storey extension to a Royston property for ‘multi-generational’ living. If approved, the work will take place on Church Hill. Three neighbouring properties have been made aware of the plans with no appeals to date. Public consultation ends on February 16.

PLANS to erect a detached garden room at a property in Royston have been approved by the council. An application for the work to take place on Field View was originally submitted in November. These plans were given the green light by Barnsley Council’s planning department recently.

PLANS to convert a Wortley workshop into a new property have been approved by the council. Work will now take place on Smithy Fold Lane after plans, which were submitted in September, were given the green light by Barnsley Council’s planning department last week.

PLANS to divide a commercial and residential property just outside the town centre have been approved. An application for the work to take place on Summer Lane was originally submitted in November 2022. These plans were given the green light by the council’s planning department recently.

PLANS to turn a town centre property into a house of multiple occupation have been given the green light by the council. An application to convert the Commercial Street property into an HMO was submitted in August. After deliberation, the plans were approved last week.

PLANS to turn a Royston property into a house of multiple occupation have been approved by the council. An application to use the house, on Midland Road, as a HMO was originally submitted in November. These plans were given the green light by the council’s planning board last week.

PLANS to make alterations at a Thurlstone chapel have been approved by the council. An application was submitted in October to widen the gateway and increase the provision of car parking spaces at Providence Baptist Chapel on Ingbirchworth Road. These plans were given the green light by Barnsley Council’s planning board last week.

PLANNING permission is being sought to change the use of a Cudworth building from a cake shop into a dog grooming parlour. If approved, the new business will be created on Barnsley Road. A total of eight neighbouring properties have been made aware of the application with no appeals to date. Public consultation ends on February 16.