Objections are flowing in to oppose major plans for the Lindley ward.
And a large number of people opposed to various plans are expected to air their concerns in Huddersfield later this week.
Thornhill Estates has submitted a bid for residential development on land at Yew Tree Road and Burn Road, at Grimescar Valley, near to Ainley Top.
It could pave the way for 190 houses to be built if it’s approved by a Kirklees planning committee.
The application, plus a major industrial and 253 houses for nearby Lindley Moor, has prompted one councillor to say Lindley is full.
Hundreds are expected to take part in a public meeting over the plans at Lindley Methodist Church at 7pm on Thursday.
The Examiner has taken a look at what impact the applications may have in the Lindley ward:
ROADS:
When the application for 294 houses between Weatherhill Road and Cowrakes Road was approved a condition meant the developers had to spend £2m improving highways - the main work was at Ainley Top roundabout.
Simon Taylor, Head of Development Management at Kirklees Council said: “The applications are in the very early stages.
“Officers will need to consider these detailed issues in their assessment of the documentation submitted. In addition, there is a process of technical consultation to undergo and this will have to be part of the assessment process.”
The Examiner asked for the roundabout’s capacity figures, which were not given.
A council spokeswoman said: “The recent improvements at Ainley Top roundabout have created additional road space on the roundabout itself and improved pedestrian facilities.
“The improvements include an Urban Traffic Control system which mean that we now have the ability to manage how the traffic safely and efficiently enters the junction from the approach roads which is where the delays occur.
“As demands vary by route, time of day and throughout the year the system is dynamic constantly reacting and adjusting to release traffic from the approach roads to reduce delay. In addition, the system can be operated manually and collects information which assists in making adjustments to how the junctions operate.”
“The recent scheme took account of new development proposed in the area as well as wider traffic growth forecasts.
“Current and proposed major planning applications that have a measurable impact on the local highway network will be assessed on their own traffic generation.
“In addition to this, the accumulative impacts of any approved developments will be assessed together.
“The latest applications will be considered, in consultation with the Highways Agency, against up to date traffic information collected at Ainley Top, and assessed in relation to how to the forecast development flows can be managed safely and efficiently onto the local highway network.”
The Grimescar Valley application indicates Ainley Top at Halifax Road and Lindley Moor Road is already operating ‘above the desired capacity’ at the morning peak, and ‘above the desired capacity’ at Huddersfield Road and Brighouse Road at the evening peak time, but the developer thinks the proposed development won’t have a ‘negligible effect’.
SCHOOL PLACES:
The Lindley ward has five primary schools: Lindley Infant School; Lindley Junior School; Moorlands Primary School; Reinwood I & N School and Reinwood Community Junior School.
A recent council report showed demand for the schools has been rising since 2010, with “the schools in the planning area are consistently oversubscribed.
Despite an extra 30 places created for 2013, all places at the schools are full for 2014, with a further 25 places needed for 2015. Some schools have recently had temporary classrooms installed.
The most over-subscribed school in Kirklees is Lindley Infant School, where the 120 places available have all been allocated, wit 43 four and five-year-olds on the waiting list.
Gill Ellis, Kirklees Assistant Director Learning and Skills said: “The Council’s approach is to plan for additional places where they are needed, and we are keen to work with our schools to continue to develop them as community hubs for the families in the area.
“The schools in the area are consistently oversubscribed and have historically alleviated pressure from neighbouring areas of North and South West Huddersfield. There have been housing developments in the area over the last five years meaning that the schools can increasingly only accommodate pupils resident in the local area.
“Going forwards it is anticipated that the potential demand from those resident in the area will increase slightly for 2015 and data indicates a modest decrease in 2016 and 2017 with numbers settling back to 2014 levels.”
AMENITIES:
Dentists: As of Monday afternoon, no dentists in the Lindley ward were accepting new adult patients on the NHS, but one would for children.
HOUSING NEED:
Objectors are saying the Lindley ward does not need any more houses, pointing out that there are 152 properties listed for sale in the ward on Rightmove, ranging from £25,000 for a shared ownership property to a £800,000 detached house.
However, as part of the Local Development Framework, the Planning Inspectorate has indicated that Kirklees Council under-estimated its housing need, and was told 22,470 is too low and the council may have to find space for around 30,000 new homes until 2028.
A concerned MP has revealed his “nightmare” vision of a housing sprawl across parts of West Yorkshire.
Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney said he feared a raft of planning applications would see green areas around Huddersfield gradually swallowed up by urban developments.
And he said it was vital that Kirklees Council came up with a planning blueprint to stop the spread.
“The council has been criticised for not having a Local Development Framework in place and many fear developers are able to take advantage of that.
Mr McCartney - who is to host a public meeting on planning issues on Thursday - said: “I fear that we are gradually chipping away at the green areas surrounding our towns and villages.
“In the not too distant future I can see Huddersfield spreading to join with neighbouring towns like Halifax and Bradford and we end up with a blob of housing developments that ruins our green spaces for ever.
“I have had talks with the Planning Minister Brandon Lewis and he has urged councils to look at using more brownfield sites rather than building in green areas. We have a number of sites in our area, including former mill premises in Honley and Meltham, that could be used for development”.
Mr McCartney is to chair a public meeting at 7pm on Thursday at Lindley Methodist Church in East Street to hear concerns about current plans for housing at Lindley Moor and in the Grimescar Valley.
The planned schemes would see more than 400 homes built, in addition to ones already constructed at Lindley Moor.
Mr McCartney said: “You only need to drive up Halifax Road at any time of the week to see how busy it is.
“The whole area is bursting at the seams and the local roads, schools and GP services can not take any more”.
The meeting will hear from representatives of groups opposing development in both areas.
