Rossington: Residents fighting 130-home development next to ancient Yorkshire woodland

Concerned residents have shared their worries over a possible housing development next to an ancient woodland in Doncaster, which experts have said contains rare plants and endangered animal species.

Those living locally to the Littleworth Lane fields, near Rossington, are fighting against proposals for a new housing development before it has even been submitted, with concerns for the “special” woodland nearby and possible future development.

Sam Rogers, a member of the Preserve Littleworth Lane Fields campaign, said: “All this land is part of a heritage site dating back to a Roman fortress.

“Because people want to make more money, that aren’t from Rossington, this is all going to get lost.”

The campaign group has been fighting a proposed 130-home estate, being developed by Albemarle Homes, which would be built on a field next to a dense, ancient woodland found between Littleworth Lane and Sheep Bridge Lane.

Albemarle Homes did not respond to requests for comment.

Kev Haigh, whose property looks out towards the woodland, said: “In the morning you look out the window and there’s rabbits running around and crows out there.”

Neighbour Gary Cantrill added: “It leads you to realise just how special that woodland is.”

The woodland in question could be home to a number of rare plants and endangered creatures, according to Matt Shardlow, an ecological consultant working with the Preserve Littleworth Lane campaign.

Mr Shardlow helped the campaign secure Natural England recognition for the site as ‘ancient woodland’, requiring Albemarle to do further surveys and assessments before submitting its development plans.

“It doesn’t technically change the fact it’s ancient woodland, but means people who were ignoring that fact can’t ignore it anymore,” he said.

“It isn’t just because it’s old. It’s because the older it is the more important is gets for rare plants and species,” he added, commending the local campaign group for getting “on the front foot” and acting before the plans were submitted.

He said: “The problem is that the whole planning system is designed for the developer to be on the front foot and the pressure on the council to say yes.”

Campaigners said proposals from Persimmon Homes at the same site in 2009 reached a similar stage, but fell away after the survey requirements for the woodland became too much of a barrier.

Preserve Littleworth Lane campaigners are also worried about future development on other nearby fields, after Land Registry documentation revealed local businessman Lloyd Nicholson, from Lazarus, owned the field Albemarle wanted to build on.

Those same documents showed Mr Nicholson had also purchased more land and fields around Littleworth Lane.

Ms Rogers, who was born and raised in Rossington, moving back in 1999, said: “I have always walked these fields as a kid since I was five. This is what makes Rossington great and special. All this woodland.”