Residents have been left to fight to save two rural spots alone after Kirklees Council decided it cannot “defend its position.”
And it could put future provisional open land sites across the district at threat of development.
Councillors on the Heavy Woollen Area Planning Sub-Committee decided not to offer any evidence in two forthcoming planning appeals by Redrow Homes against planning rejection of 26 homes on land at Strike Lane in Skelmanthorpe and up to 200 homes at Pilling Lane in Scissett.
The decision not to defend the decision was made by committee members behind closed doors after they were given advice from Kirklees planning officers, legal advisors and financial information. None of the advice has been made public.
The land at both sites is classed as provisional open land (POL) – a policy that safeguards land until a local plan review proposes it be development.
But the uncertainty comes from withdrawal of the Local Development Framework (LDF) – the council’s proposed planning policy until 2028 – which was withdrawn on the advice of the Planning Inspector and is being re-worked.
Before the private session got underway the committee allowed objectors to make representations.
The Rev Philip Reynolds said: “Two hundred houses in that village is too large for the small community and they will be the wrong type of houses. We welcome some low cost homes for the young families needing somewhere affordable to live, we welcome appropriate housing for elderly.
“These will simply bring in a large number of commuters.”
Clr Jim Dodds, Denby Dale Conservative, said he understood the financial consequences of Kirklees defending its decision and losing, but he said: “We are in a difficult position with the withdrawal of the LDF – we’re between a rock and a hard place.
“But we need to send the message to developers that it is not open season for every POL site.
“The village of Scissett cannot take another 200 homes, the infrastructure isn’t there, the village schools are working at full capacity, as are the doctors and dentists.
“We’ve one narrow road in and out of Scissett, anyone wanting to get onto the M1 at 8am will join a three mile tailback and adding another 200 houses will add to that.
“I realise we can’t oppose every application, but we do need to make a statement and this is that development to make it.
“The number of houses is inappropriate for the location.”
Resident Philip Grosvenor told Kirklees: “You can defend this on land supply figures. In July 2013 the Office of National Statistics ONS for population growth shows a decline in Kirklees, a 42.1% reduction in population growth over the next 18 years and we believe that you should use these figures to calculate land supply.
“If you do, it shows you have an 11 year land supply. The Government use these figures to decide spending including in the NHS, so they believe the figures are acceptable.
“Have the courage, if you give up it will be open season on POL.”
The official Kirklees Council decision says: “Due to the recent changes regarding the LDF, and the subsequent impact relating to the five year land supply, it be determined that council does not offer any evidence at the forthcoming public inquiries relating to Public Open Land sites, as referred to within the report, as it can no longer defend its position at appeal.”
