Kirklees councillors have given the go-ahead to a controversial housing plan in Linthwaite.
Kirklees planning and highways committee yesterday agreed the plan to build 236 homes at Black Rock Mills, Waingate, Linthwaite.
But yesterday’s committee agreed that the proposal – for a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses as well as flats – follows UDP guidelines.
The £22m investment in the site has taken eight years to get to this stage, despite the 191 homes being approved in 2009.
In October, Kier Ventures agreed to increase the number of affordable homes on the site from 12 to 41.
Conditions of yesterday’s decision means that listed buildings on the site must be renovated in an early part of the development and Kier Ventures will be responsible for maintaining and managing a woodland area and all the open space on the site, including landscaping and all water and drainage infrastructure.
Brownfield parts of the site must be developed before greenfield ones.
Highway improvement works will include a new bus stop and shelter on Waingate, refurbishing the existing shelter along Causeway, improvements to the junction at Waingate and Chapel Hill and a new footpath along Waingate.
Protesters said any proposals for additional pavements will narrow these roads even further.
They also cited concerns about the stability of the land on the site, especially during periods of heavy rain and their fears it will bring an increased risk of flooding to the area.