Developers submit bigger housing scheme for controversial Black Rock Mills plan at Linthwaite

A CONTROVERSIAL Colne Valley housing plan is back – and this time it’s bigger.

Plans to partially demolish the disused Black Rock Mills at Linthwaite and build 191 homes were approved in 2009.

While demolition of several derelict mill buildings has taken place, the new homes have not been built.

But now a new plan has been formally submitted for more homes on a larger plot.

Developer Kier Ventures Limited wants to construct 248 dwellings on the Waingate site, comprising a mix of flats and houses.

This time it says there is potential for more homes as land to the west of the site could be released for development.

Other amendments to the 2009 plan include a new landscaped walk along the culvert and a host of paths, play spaces and terraces on the site.

The initial plan caused widespread opposition across the village.

Emotions were running so high at a key planning meeting that it had to be temporarily suspended due to the level of heckling.

At the meeting, local resident Trevor Woolley told councillors the development would bring hundreds more cars to the narrow roads around the mill.

He said: “Should a child be killed because of this committee’s decision, you will never be forgiven.”

Clr David Ridgway, ward councillor for Linthwaite, said the larger plan was an unwelcome development.

And said he was concerned that “political difficulties” agreeing the Local Development Framework (LDF) were allowing developers “carte blanche” on land earmarked for development, known as Provisional Open Land (POL).

He said: “In 2009 there was some vociferous opposition to any development at all.

“However the general consensus became that it was better there was development than for it to remain a mess.

“With the new plan there’s total opposition to developing on the green fields between the site and Upper Clough and to the increase in houses on the site.

“In the LDF negotiations it was generally agreed that no POL sites in the Colne Valley would be developed until all the brownfield sites were used up.

“I’m concerned these negotiations are in jeopardy.

“Trying to stick a greater number of houses up without a great deal of consultation into how they’re to be incorporated – I think that’s poor.”

Clr Ridgway said he intended to ask planners to refer the matter to committee on the basis of lack of infrastructure, including highways, water, education and the overall environmental impact.