A new store has got the go-ahead for a garden centre.
The Range – based on the Great Northern Retail Park off Leeds Road – secured permission from Huddersfield’s Planning Committee.
The retailer wanted consent to put a roof over the entire garden centre area of what was once Homebase, which also had a garden centre.
Clr Andrew Marchington asked why they were wanting a roof, saying: “I get a feeling they’re wanting it roofed for expansion of retail and whether that has implications on decision-making.”
Clr Jean Calvert said she too was “cynical” about the reasons, saying: “Why, when you have got a garden centre, do you want to cover it over? Will there be a change of use further down the line?”
Clr Ken Sims said highways was a problem at the retail centre, with it taking him an hour and a quarter to get out of the complex recently. He said: “Can we ask for a contribution to alleviated some of the problems.”
Steve Sampson, Kirklees highways officer, said there were talks for more access points.
He said: “There are real problems there especially on weekends. Highways are working with the site operator to reconfigure the entrance with an additional entrance off Fitzwilliam Street and improving the two-way flow out of the signalised junction.
“We are hoping to resolve the issue in the near future.”
The retailer took over the unit from Homebase, which had a garden centre, in April this year.
