Proposed Development
Newsholme Developments has worked with the local community and key stakeholders to develop a proposal for the site. Engagement has included meetings and focus groups with local resident groups, including the Parish Council and discussing the findings of the Parish Council’s Housing and Development Survey. The majority of parishioners identified as part of this survey that they agree with developing part of the site for sport and leisure activities – this is reflected within the proposals for the Village Social Hub which include areas for sports including football and supporting children’s play with a new playground. Opportunities have also been incorporated into the plans to provide space that could support a restaurant, coffee shop, bar and potential for a village shop – all facilities and uses that many parishioners identified as being appropriate at the site.
Newsholme Developments has also worked with the City of Doncaster Council and key statutory consultees to understand technical matters relevant to the site and the proposals.
​
The proposals presented as part of this consultation will preserve and enhance the heritage assets on site and will deliver a variety of benefits for the existing and future residents of High Melton.
The amount and extent of development shown on the proposals, has been informed by the site’s location within the Doncaster Green Belt, the amount of ‘previously developed land’ within the site and the costs associated with restoring the site’s heritage assets. Being within the Green Belt, where not on previously developed land, it is necessary for Newsholme Developments to demonstrate that ‘Very Special Circumstances’ exist for the new development that extends beyond the areas of land accommodating-built form; the benefits of restoring the heritage assets form part of the Very Special Circumstances case. Subsequently, to finance and facilitate this work, there is a requirement to deliver new homes - the extent of residential development being proposed is roughly equivalent to the floorspace being ‘lost’ to deliver an enhanced setting for the heritage assets on the site but spread over a wider area at lower density. The number homes to be built would be dependent on the housing mix and types.
​
The proposed development coming forward would enable Newsholme Developments to continue their investment in Melton Hall and the rest of the site, restoring the damaged buildings and demolishing the modern buildings which are visually out of place and no longer serve a purpose.
​
The emerging proposals are underpinned by the site’s technical and environmental constraints and opportunities and have been designed with input from key stakeholders including City of Doncaster Council and consideration for the Parish Council’s recent Neighbourhood Plan survey.
​
In summary, the emerging proposed development comprises the following:
Conversion of Melton Hall into 15 luxury
2-bedroom and 4-bedroom homes
‘The Village Hub’ an area with small-scale retail, offices and opportunities for social and recreational activities
Protecting and retaining the existing uses at ‘The Stables’
Improvements to the main site access
Demolition of more modern buildings and construction of homes of a variety of sizes
‘The Village Social Hub’ including opportunities for outdoor sports, wellness, play, socialisation, education and community room hire
Access, landscaping and parking improvements at ‘St James’ Church’
A comprehensive and sympathetic landscaping scheme to provide biodiversity enhancement, improve public pedestrian access and better reveal the site’s historic assets
​​The Indicative Zoning Masterplan below shows the proposed site area and where the different aspects of the development might be located.
Indicative Zoning Masterplan
Click to enlarge image