Go-ahead for 267 home development scheme

COUNCILLORS HAVE given the green light – subject to certain legal agreement – to a controversial plan for 267 homes to be built at Rastrick.

Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee was mindful to permit amended plans, submitted by Engle, Yorkshire Housing and Thornhill Estates for a 10.4 hectare plot at New Hey Road, Delf Hill, Shannon Road and Mount Lane, albeit not with a great deal of enthusiasm and on a split vote.

Coun Colin Hutchinson (Lab, Skircoat) criticised the scheme’s uniform design, despite some compromise upgrades resulting from a meeting between developers and council officers after the application was deferred in November because councillors were not happy with some aspects. But his proposal the plans be rejected was not successful.

Councillors were warned by Lead Planning Officer Richard Seaman that his officers had concluded the application met the planning guidelines. “My advice to members would be that if the application went to appeal we would have very, very significant difficulties defending a refusal and in the circumstances the council would be at risk of a cost award,” he said. Refusal would have to show concerns outweighed the benefit of new homes.

Agents for the applicants said the plans provided a significant number of high quality housing with a mix of affordable homes, making a significant contribution to

Calderdale’s housing supply position.

A proposal from Committee Chair Coun Steve Sweeney (Lab, Todmorden) to support officers’ recommendation to be mindful to permit the plans was successful.

Earlier Mr Nick Midgley of Rastrick Neighbourhood Forum spoke on behalf of residents and said they feared the driving force behind the recommendation to approve was Calderdale’s being behind target in terms of building new homes.

He outlined concerns over design, infrastructure including highways, and believed compensating for the loss of biodiversity land by financial support for a site five miles away at Norland was unsatisfactory. Coun Sophie Whittaker (Con, Rastrick) said highways issues and concerns over air quality were paramount.