Concerns about the loss of woodland habitat featured in a hearing that will decide the future of a Huddersfield beauty spot.
Around 25 residents attended a Planning Inspectorate hearing that will rule on Prospect Estate’s plan for 41 homes on Clayton Fields, Edgerton.
The developer needs planning consent but thought Kirklees Council was taking too long to rule so lodged an appeal.
Biodiversity was a central part of the hearing with Jeff Keenlyside, Kirklees environmental expert, saying: “There is bat activity across the site, which concerns a protected species, and , obviously there is the loss of habitat including two oak trees.
“The loss of a small area of woodland is acceptable providing public open space is accommodated elsewhere within the development scheme.”
Residents questioned how it would be achieved, saying the area designated featured concrete water tanks and Yorkshire Water pipes.
Mr Keenlyside said a footpath was to be re-routed over the tanks and the habitat would be elsewhere.
The inspector asked if security lights from the new houses would impact on the bat roost potential and John Ritchie, Kirklees planning officer, said the council viewed street lighting as the issue, not security lighting.
Roger Lee, for Prospect Estates, said they would not be lighting the woodland and felt it would not pose a risk to bat foraging.
Clr Andrew Cooper criticised the developer’s attitude saying: “Councillors offered to hold off making a decision to allow the developers to speak with objectors and officers to deal with biodiversity and affordable housing issues.
“That offer was made at the first meeting and the response from the developer was “no, we’ll take the appeal”.
“The developer’s stance has taken the decision out of the hands of the local councillors. This is a tactic of the developer to try and get this through. It’s a general lack of respect for the people and the process.”
Roger Lee, agent for Prospect Estates, described Clr Cooper’s comments as “factually incorrect” adding: “If our attitude was “we’ll take the appeal” we wouldn’t have discussed and sorted the concerns with officers since.”
The inspector’s ruling will be published in the coming weeks.
