Vast swathes of undeveloped land in Kirklees have been included in the Local Plan, the council’s vision for development until 2031.
But planning officials have also revealed they ruled out about 800 sites put forward by landowners as they deemed them too valuable to lose or unsuitable for development.
The Local Plan blueprint has identified about 200 sites that the council thinks would be suitable for homes or business.
But a lengthy list of the sites spared by planning officials shows some interesting plots were saved from developers, including many of Huddersfield’s playing fields.
The list of rejected sites include the headquarters of Black Cat Fireworks at Crosland Hill, land around Colne Valley High School at Linthwaite, Newsome Road playing fields, Berry Brow recreation ground, Botham Hall recreation ground, the ‘Brook Motors’ playing fields at Brockholes, land adjacent to Marsden Railway Station, Cliffe End Business Centre at Milnsbridge, and the Sun Inn pub at Flockton.
A review of the green belt has also seen more than 150 small green belt sites rejected from being re-categorised as not in the green belt, including Armitages Garden Centre at Shelley and land at the Ponderosa at Heckmondwike.
Just five small sites were accepted. They are at Barnsley Road, Upper Cumberworth, Church Lane, Gomersal, two sites at Overthorpe Road, Thornhill and land behind 23 Upper Batley Low Lane, Batley.
As reported, larger green belt sites have been included in the master blueprint, at Bradley Park golf course and at Chidswell, Dewsbury.
Click below to see sites have been chosen for development
