The Leader of Wakefield Council, Cllr Denise Jeffery, has brought relief to residents of Sandal by confirming the withdrawal of the planning application for a housing development on the grounds of West Yorkshire Sports and Social Club.
Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council; “There are no current proposals to develop West Yorkshire Sports and Social Club for alternative uses. The site is allocated for residential development in our Local Plan but this is because at the time the plan was being prepared and examined, a planning application for residential development remained under consideration.
“This planning application has since been withdrawn by Persimmon Homes and we understand there are no plans for another such planning application to be submitted.
“This is good news for the people of Sandal and I’d particularly like to thank Persimmon Homes, the local residents and other stakeholders who have worked with me to ensure the sports ground can be retained for such purposes.”
The original deal to sell the site to Persimmon Homes was struck in 1998. Planning permission for a housing development at the site was first put forward in 2013, but never determined.
The West Yorkshire Sports and Social Club is owned by Wakefield Council but leased to a group of trustees who have run it since the 1990s. The club offers function space as well as sports facilities, playing fields and green space.
Cllr Jeffery added: “As owners of the land, we’ll be working with the current trustees to explore the future of the site bearing in mind the need for green spaces and sporting facilities.”
