GRIMESCAR Valley’s swathe of green belt has been saved for a generation.

But the area at Birchencliffe alongside the Kirklees Way could still face development.

A developer had plans to build hundreds of homes and offices on green belt land at the Huddersfield beauty spot but that has now been vetoed by councillors.

Kirklees Council officers backed the proposal last week as part of the controversial Local Development Framework (LDF).

But yesterday the ruling Labour Party joined opposition groups in pledging to block the Grimescar plan.

The shock news leaves Thornhill Estates’s Northern Gateway proposal in doubt.

The landowner had wanted to construct 841 new homes, including 500 on green belt land.

Thornhill also proposed building 355,000sq ft of offices and 10,000sq ft of new shops on the 260-hectare site at Ainley Top and Grimescar.

But yesterday Labour leader Clr Mehboob Khan said the number of jobs generated by Northern Gateway did not justify the loss of so much green land.

“We reject the proposals for the Grimescar Valley which would have seen housing and employment on green belt land close to the M62 at Ainley Top,” he said.

“The proposal would have provided just five hectares of employment land.

“We have listened to those people who provided evidence around the impact on transport infrastructure as well as schools and other community assets.”

The councillor said that the Birchencliffe area – designated in the last planning blueprint as public open space – could potentially still be developed.

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But he added: “All such public openspaces will be looked at site by site in the future and we will listen to the views of all concerned.

“Those decisions will not be made until at least 2013”.

The surprise move over the green belt land came just a week after the Labour Cabinet backed the council officers’ LDF proposal which included building on Grimescar.

Clr Khan said yesterday his party had changed its mind after listening to opposition from campaigners concerned about the loss of green space in Huddersfield.

“Following discussions at Cabinet earlier this month, we felt that the provision of new land for employment should be scaled back in locations where there are particular sensitivities and consequences for the environment,” he said.

Councillors will vote next week on the LDF blueprint for housing and employment development for the next 17 years.

A Thornhill Estates spokesman last night said the company was saddened by the news that councillors had come out against the Northern Gateway.

“We’re very disappointed with this announcement,” he said.

“We are confident that, following four years of work, we have put together a robust case for our proposals which would bring significant employment and community benefits to Kirklees.

“We look to the full council meeting next week to give due consideration to our proposals.

“We hope that members will recognise the strength of our case and support the inclusion of Ainley Top as a strategic location.”

Kirklees officers have proposed allowing 25,400 new homes in the district by 2028, including 2,500 on green belt land.

Clr Khan yesterday unveiled Labour’s counter-proposal to allow 22,470 houses, including 950 on green belt land in south Dewsbury.

The Greenhead Labour man said: “We have listened to members of the public, interest groups, employers and developers to come up with a proposal that we think reflects our future needs around jobs and homes, but which takes care to maintain the attractive character of Kirklees.”

Clr Khan added that the framework should help the council generate employment.

He said: “In the last decade, our neighbours in Wakefield have attracted 11,000 jobs, but we have not attracted any new private sector jobs in the same period.

“We have kept to the officer proposal for Cooper Bridge as this is key employment land, close to the M62 and crucial to attracting employers.

“The Labour plan also includes land for employment use in Birstall, Cleckheaton, Clayton West and Meltham, in line with the council officer proposals.”

Meanwhile, opposition parties confirmed yesterday they would also oppose building on Grimescar Valley.

Clr Kath Pinnock, who leads the 14-strong Lib Dems, said: “We have rejected the proposal for development in the Grimescar Valley on the grounds that it is of particular environmental value to many residents in Huddersfield and because that part of the town has already had significant numbers of new homes with several hundred more in the pipeline.”

The four Greens and two independent councillors released their proposal yesterday, which included a pledge to preserve Grimescar Valley.

Holme Valley North independent Clr Terry Lyons said: “Our response to the LDF proposals both incorporates realism and protection of local communities.”

Green leader Clr Andrew Cooper added: “Our proposal is realistically attainable and will not compromise the local environment for dubious economic gain.”

Earlier this week, the 21-strong opposition Conservative group pledged to oppose any building on green belt land – meaning all four parties on Kirklees have promised to protect Grimescar from development.

The 69 councillors will debate and vote on the LDF at Huddersfield Town Hall from 10am on Wednesday.

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