RESIDENTS living near a proposed housing development in Slaithwaite have denied the developer’s claims the plans have support.

As reported in the Examiner last week, more than 60 flats and houses would be built on the old Empire Works site at Howgate Road, Slaithwaite, if a planning application is approved.

Marsden-based SB Homes has submitted plans for a two-phase development next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The first would see 22 houses and seven apartments built. A further 36 houses would be built in phase two.

The design and access statement, submitted as part of the application, said two meetings had been held with a residents’ group.

It said: “In general a large proportion of attendees welcomed the proposals to regenerate the

redundant site.”

But Margaret Wiskow, of the local neighbourhood watch association, said: “There was certainly no enthusiasm for the proposed development as there are a number of other factors still to consider.

“At previous meetings between the proposed development company and ourselves some doubts were voiced about the standard of other housing built by this company in different parts of the Colne Valley.

“Some further attention to traffic access is also necessary.”