Plans to develop former mining land between Rotherham and Sheffield have been supported by the government.

The £100m project is planned for the former 230 hectare Orgreave open cast site in Waverley on land off Highfield Spring, adjacent to the Advanced Manufacturing Park.

The site at Waverley was one of Europe's biggest mining operations and is bigger than Sheffield city centre. The two planning applications propose 4,000 houses, shops, a hotel, retail and leisure facilities. The applications will now be considered by Rotherham Borough Council. The applications were initially considered at Rotherham's Planning Board in January but under planning regulations had to be sent to the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber for consideration.

Members of the board agreed to support the outline application by Harworth Estates for the new community at Waverley - and also supported a second application for offices, a hotel, retail and leisure facilities for Helical Governetz on land off Highfield Spring, Catcliffe.