Will the Great Crested Newt stand in the way of a house builder?
A bid by Ben Bailey Homes to build in Mirfield may be decided this week.
The house-builder wants consent for 34 houses on land off Kitson Hill Road but the potential presence of the newt is causing problems.
Council papers say the site has been assessed as being “generally of low ecological value” for protected species.
Surveys will take place, including some during breeding season mid-April to mid-May and the council report says: “It is only following completion of the four survey site visits, can it be established with any confidence any conclusions as to the presence or absence of great-crested newts within the surveyed ponds.”
Kirklees’ own ecologist adds: “The application should not be determined until the full suite of great-crested newt surveys have been completed as recommended as best practice in the guidelines. The earliest this information will be available is mid-May.”
However, it has been listed for a decision on Thursday and Kirklees planning officers recommend it be approved, subject to officers being satisfied by the surveys and to determine financial contributions.
The Mirfield application is one of 11 councillors will rule on for the Heavy Woollen area.
Steven Shaw is seeking consent for a 35.4m ground to blade tip wind turbine on greenbelt land at Mount Pleasant Farm in Shelley.
Around 60% of electricity it generates will be sold back to the National Grid with the remainder of the 195,000kWh used by Mr Shaw.
It is recommended for approval.
The Thornhill Lees Muslim Welfare Trust want consent for a two-storey mosque for up to 288 people on land at the rear of Parker Road.
It would open from 7am until 8pm during winter and 4am and 11pm during the summer, a school operating between 5pm and 7pm all year round for 190 pupils.
The land was owned by Kirklees Council and Cabinet agreed in 2012 to sell it. It is recommended for approval.
Other applications, all recommended for approval, are: Radcliffe Developments (Farnley) Ltd want consent for two houses at Beech House Farm, Farnley Tyas; North Park (Shelley) Ltd want consent to demolish an existing bungalow at 9 Pond Lane, Lepton and build four new houses; and Alcuin Homes Limited want consent for four houses on land at Abbey Road North, Shepley.
Mr Hussain wants consent for an extension at 39 Crawshaw Street, Ravensthorpe; and Mohammed Mumtaz wants to convert the first floor of a former restaurant at Westgate in Heckmondwike into two flats.
Fraser Neasham Yorkshire Housing and The Trustees of the Savile Trust want consent for 34 houses and four apartments in the former Soothill Cricket Club in Batley. Planning officers recommend it be referred to the Planning and Highways Committee.
Ian Shorrock, Blackmores (D) Ltd wants outline consent for 87 houses on land at Lock Street, Thornhill. It will involve the demolition of existing buildings on the site and the removal of a disused railway embankment.
While planning officers have recommended councillors refuse outline consent for residential properties on land at Edge Road in Thornhill Edge, Dewsbury.
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