Kirklees Council’s Cabinet ‘running scraed’ of house-building plan

Jun 30 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

COUNCILLORS are “running scared” from controversial plans to build 37,000 new homes.

Kirklees Council’s Labour/Lib Dem Cabinet said the Local Development Framework (LDF) was being shelved for a year.

The plan could see as many as 37,000 new homes built by 2026.

The opposition Conservatives have accused the ruling parties of ducking the issue. Tory leader Clr Jim Dodds said: “They are running scared, washing their hands of the proposals and blaming everyone but themselves.”

Nearly 3,000 residents responded to a Kirklees consultation on four house-building plans between February and April.

Option 1 concentrated new development in and around Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Batley.

Option 2 linked new development to the main Huddersfield/Leeds transport routes

Option 3 concentrated new development in the south of Kirklees, particularly around Honley and Skelmanthorpe.

Option 4 was similar to option 1 but avoided use of floodplain in Dewsbury.