DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
Providing an update for the community
on current development progress.
August 2023
Highways
You may recall that in May 2023, Harworth commissioned a specialist assessment of traffic activity across all junctions along Highfield Lane. The report has recently been issued and reviewed by both Harworth and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. It made a recommendation to install give way markings on Bradfield Way and Derwent Chase, to give priority to Highfield Lane and to install temporary signage to highlight the change in road layout. On 16 August 2023, we completed the installation of these give way markings and the temporary signage.
Last week, Harworth agreed with the council that we will design and install line markings on three other junctions along Highfield Lane, at Askham Way, Broomhill Avenue and Rivelin Way. We expect these to be installed on 30 August. In the meantime, the council will install temporary give way signage at these junctions, which will be removed once the line marking is applied.
We will be meeting with the council later in the year to discuss whether any further action is required to improve road safety along Highfield Lane.
Please note that Harworth does not control any of the estate roads that have been built by housebuilders. If you have any questions or concerns relating to these, please direct them to the relevant housebuilder in the first instance.
July 2023
INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS
Drainage
Earlier this year Yorkshire Water agreed to progress its adoption of drainage infrastructure across Waverley, with the first phase of drainage likely to be adopted in January 2024.
Harworth is currently undertaking some minor remedial works on site to ensure the drainage infrastructure meets Yorkshire Water’s requirements. These works are due to be completed in September 2023.
The works should not be intrusive or impact residents, with the exception of a small section of road on Woodhouse View. These residents have been notified directly by Barratt Homes.
Highways
We are aware of reported incidents that have taken place recently on Highfield Lane and wanted to provide an update on the work we are doing around this.
The highways and junctions at Waverley have been designed and constructed to meet all national highway requirements. RMBC had given technical approval for Highfield Lane, and Harworth has completed all works as set out in the relevant legal agreements with the council.
However, in response to recent reported incidents we are in the process of reviewing the junctions. As part of this we commissioned a specialist assessment of traffic activity across all junctions along Highfield Lane. The report has recently been issued and reviewed by both Harworth and RMBC. It makes a recommendation to install give way markings on Bradfield Way and Derwent Chase, to give priority to Highfield Lane and to install temporary signage to highlight the change in road layout. Importantly, RMBC have now agreed to the installation of these markings and for our s38 agreement to be varied to allow this. Works are expected to take place the week commencing 14th August as per the plan provided below.
Based on the data obtained during this assessment process, circa 10% of vehicles passing over the junction along Highfield Lane do so in excess of the 30mph speed limit. As such, we will continue to look at potential measures that can be taken to manage driver behaviour.
Other junctions along Highfield Lane remain under review.
Working with the council and combined authority
Education
We wanted to provide an update on the delivery of primary school places at Waverley, which is important to many residents.
Ensuring good school place provision over the coming years is a priority for us. New residential development creates additional demand for school places, and we know there are concerns from some families around availability of places for local children.
School provision is determined by RMBC and the Department for Education (DfE) but in recent years we have worked closely with both to help address the challenges around school places.
The provision of school places at Waverley is linked to the number of new homes that are being built. When Harworth received planning consent for Waverley in 2010, we committed to making financial contributions to support the provision of school places across the development, with four forms of entry in total, across two schools. This was based on the number of homes initially planned to be built at Waverley, which was higher density than what has been delivered – and included more terraced housing and apartments.
As the development has progressed over the years, we have regularly reviewed our masterplan and sought to ensure the homes we build respond to the needs of the local housing market. As a result of this, we have delivered a lower density development of estate housing.
We have been in close discussion with RMBC and the DfE in recent years, and based on the number of homes expected to be delivered at Waverley, it has been agreed that – in with national and local government policy – three forms of primary school entry are needed across the development. This can be delivered within one school.
We are now working collaboratively with RMBC to deliver this third form of entry within Waverley Junior Academy. This school has been designed and built to accommodate a future extension.
We know that the community wants to see more school places made available as soon as possible, and in response to this Harworth made an early financial contribution to RMBC to support the delivery of the third form of entry earlier than envisaged. It is anticipated this will be open by 2026, creating more school places for local children.
Development Management
Harworth is committed to ensuring the open spaces and shared communal areas at Waverley are delivered in a sustainable way and properly maintained. The following management works are currently in progress:
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Taylor Wimpey is developing the landscaping around its new homes and we are working with its team to ensure this is completed. Once this is done, the landscaped areas will be handed over to the management company to maintain.
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We are working to facilitate a water supply into the community garden at School Square. Yorkshire Water will be providing a metered connection, and we are currently undertaking works to enable them to do this.
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We recently worked alongside various stakeholders and governing bodies to clear trees and litter blockage in the River Rother.
A considerable amount of infrastructure works are required to bring forward the delivery of new residential, commercial and leisure phases across the development. The following works are currently underway:
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Drainage works to form swales in the reservoirs – this is to help slow surface run off water into the lakes at a suitable rate
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Works on Riverside to enable the delivery of the pumping station
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Landscaping works around the new bike track
The following housebuilders are also undertaking works to enable the delivery of new homes on their respective sites:
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Avant Homes at Riverside
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Barratt Homes and Taylor Wimpey at Waverley Gate
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Sky House at Lescar Road
Harworth will be submitting a planning application this summer for a new play area next to Lakeside. This will be suitable for children of all ages, and will be designed in keeping with its natural setting.
We are working closely with the owners of the planned Marriott hotel to ensure it is opened later this year or early 2024 at the latest.
Public Transport
Waverley is served by various bus services (73, A1, X54 and X74).
Harworth does not control which bus services run through the site, but we are working with RMBC and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to support their work to develop better bus connections at Waverley. This could include permanent bus stops and more bus routes.
As part of our proposals for the new local centre at Waverley – Olive Lane – the bus stops on Highfield Spring will be enhanced to have new shelters, which will feature live time updates.
We are also exploring the possibility of delivering a new train station at Waverley.
