A housing bid for Salendine Nook has been rejected to protect trees.
A developer wanted permission for 22 houses and garages on New Hey Road at Salendine Nook. It would be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses.
But the site is bounded by mature and protected trees and the council’s experts say a development so close would put the trees at risk.
Clr Molly Walton said: “My concern is about the trees, as tall as a tree is its roots are as long underneath.
“We have got people within the council who are professional experts and I think the applicant has got to take their advice as much as we have to take their advice.”
Clr Mark Hemingway added he would support some houses on this site, but added: “I can’t support this, maybe a smaller scheme that works with the trees would be better.”
While the principle of housing on the site is acceptable, Kirklees planning officer Bill Topping said the layout would mean the loss of mature trees and harm the long-term protection of other trees.
He was asked what a ‘good’ layout would be and he replied: “It is not for us to design the layout it’s for us to respond to what they put in. They need to take advantage of the site’s advantages which on this site are the lovely trees.”
Councillors agreed the poor layout of the proposed housing would “fail to provide a good standard of amenity for future occupants” as the trees would cause “substantial shading as well as leaf drop and potential structural damage”.
It was rejected unanimously.
