Controversial Local Plan could be in place in just a few weeks
Calderdale could be a matter of a few weeks away from adopting its controversial Local Plan which could signal the building of thousands of new homes and the loss of swathes of open spaces and fields in the borough.
When they meet today, senior councillors on the authority’s ruling cabinet are asked to recommend to the full Calderdale Council that members adopt the land use blueprint later in March.
The Local Plan identifies sites where up to 10,000 new homes might be built into the 2030s, and also sites for economic growth.
If adoption of the Local Plan is ultimately approved at the full council meeting
on March 22, this will ensure the council has a robust and up to date planning policy framework, councillors have
been told.
The plan will run to 2033 and once the green light is given, it will be reviewed in
year five to see if the number of new homes are still needed.
Coun Jane Scullion (Lab,
Luddenden Foot), cabinet member for regeneration and strategy, said the end of what has been a lengthy process is now in sight.
“These are the final few steps on the road to the adoption of Calderdale’s Local Plan.
“There will be no further public hearings and there can be no further major changes to the plan.
“All that is left is for it to be considered by cabinet and full council.
“That is as it should be, this is the plan for the future of Calderdale so it’s important that the final decision rests with our local democracy,” she said.
Proposals have been controversial particularly in south and eastern parts of the borough including Brighouse, where two large garden suburbs together comprising around 3,000 new homes are proposed; Greetland, Hipperholme, Northowram and Shelf are where numbers of new homes are likely to be highest.
Campaigners’ concerns include infrastructure and environmental, including air quality, issues.
But the government-appointed planning inspector, Katie Child, who oversaw the hearing process, said she found the plan “sound” providing a number of main modifications she has detailed are made, and the recommendation to Cabinet includes that these be incorporated into the document.
Cabinet meets at Halifax Town Hall from 6pm on March 2, and it will also be screened via the council’s Public-i channel (https:// calderdale.public-i.tv/core/ portal/home).