you are here: Home   >   Commercial PIT YARD The proposed development will provide 21,853 square metres gross employment space, which will create 1000 new jobs. Almost 500 people were employed on the site prior to closure of the Colliery in September 2002. Hence the proposed development will create more than twice the number of jobs lost when the Colliery closed. DTZ Debenham Tie Leung have produced a Sequential Test Analysis and this is submitted in support of the application proposals. The report demonstrates that the proposed employment space addresses the five key tests as outlined in PPS6 as: The need for development; That the development is of an appropriate scale; That there are no more central sites for the development; That there are no unacceptable impacts on existing centres; and That locations are accessible. PPS6 (2005) confirms that for office development, locations outside the town centre but within 500 metre of a public transport interchange, including railway and bus stations, within the urban area should be considered as edge-of-centre locations for the purposes of the sequential approach. The Sequential Test Analysis states that: The application site is wholly within the Pontefract urban area, as defined on the Wakefield UDP Proposals Map, and is immediately adjacent to Tanshelf rail station and therefore should be regarded as an edge-of-centre location. There is a lack of Grade A office space in Pontefract town centre. Demand exists for office space in similar locations demonstrating that office development at the subject site would also be in demand. The site is not only close to town centre amenities but is also easily accessible by a number of transport methods. The site is an edge-of-centre site that adjoins Tanshelf rail station and is well served by bus services on Park Road and Skinner Lane, ensuring employees would be able to access the area, by public transport as well as by car. The report concludes that the development of good quality offices here will be market making, creating a demand for office property in this location which will have the beneficial impact of lifting the profile of all Five Towns as locations of choice. Please note – no commercial units are proposed on the Spoil Heap