A developer has been given the go-ahead to build on open land in Meltham.
Kirklees councillors backed plans for 27 houses on land off Colders Lane, an application that was opposed by a petition signed by 153 residents and 60 objection letters.
The application was referred to today’s Planning and Highways Committee from the Huddersfield Planning Sub-Committee as it was a departure from policy agreed in 1999.
The seven-strong committee unanimously backed it.
Robert Halstead, agent for the developer, said: “This is land allocated for housing in the UDP (Unitary Development Plan) and it’s within the existing urban area.
“There was a footnote to it regarding a link to Wessenden Head Road, that link is no longer required, the only place to build it has since had planning permission by this council and it has been built.
“We have demonstrated that access can be safety accommodated on the highway network.
“This is one of those sites that should come forward for development, drainage and coal risk are all matters that could be evident in quite a lot of sites in this borough and they can be dealt with.”
Clr Eric Firth, Labour councillor for Dewsbury East, asked officers about any risk from former mining on the site and was told the Coal Authority had been consulted. A condition requires further detailed ground investigations to assess mine shafts and gas from the developer ahead of building.
The land is one hectare and used as a paddock. GSK Developments secured consent for a mix of detached, semi-detached and townhouses.
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