CAMPAIGNERS have rubbished claims that a controversial plan to build on fields on the edge of Huddersfield will create 150 jobs.

Planners will decide tomorrow if Stirling Scotfield can set up a data centre on 18 hectares of Lindley Moor.

The developer wants to use the land off Crosland Road to provide a secure site for companies to store their computer servers.

Stirling Scotfield has told Kirklees Council that the data centre would have a total floorspace of 32,049sq m and would provide 150 jobs.

But Lindley Moor Action Group (LMAG) has rubbished the figure.

Spokesman Peter Schofield said yesterday that data centres employ only a handful of security guards.

“It is nonsense to say this development would provide 150 jobs,” he said.

“LMAG commissioned Hotfoot Recruitment to carry out a survey on the employment figures of data centres.

“The survey was sent to senior data centre management professionals who work for a range of organisations including BSkyB, Orange, Plusnet, Morrisons, Cable and Wireless, Deloitte, Pipex and ComputaCenter.

“The experts from these organisations confirmed that data centres are not manned with desks and operators, but are managed, supported and upgraded remotely.

“Only a few security jobs will possibly be generated.”

The council’s Huddersfield Planning Sub-committee will decide on the data centre plan tomorrow.

Officials from Kirklees Regeneration and Economic Development Service are in favour of the plan.

In a report to the sub-committee they wrote: “The data centre application is welcomed as it will create 150 jobs. These jobs are likely to be sustainable and establish Kirklees presence in this area of activity which could bring wider benefits to the local employment market.”

Mr Schofield criticised council officers for backing the data centre plan.

He said: “The policy and planning departments are tenacious in their desire to release the industrial site at Lindley Moor, and that is why their assessments ignore the valid arguments of LMAG and other objectors.”

The Examiner contacted Stirling Scotfield’s Leeds-based agents ID Planning yesterday for a comment on the issue. None was forthcoming.

However, the developer has submitted a detailed document explaining its plan for the area.

It explains that data centres are “vital facilities” used to house computer servers which deal with email, internet connections, credit card transactions, phone calls and the storage of medical records among other things.

According to the developer, the number of online transactions is expected to climb from 90 billion in 2009 to 750 billion in 2015.

Stirling Scotfield added that data centres require “highly specialised technology labour” and “a high level of site security”.

The document goes on to outline proposals to develop two plots of land next to the data centre site.

Both areas have been allocated for industrial use by Kirklees – but planning applications have not yet been submitted for either.

A 15-hectare site known as Area 2 lies between the proposed data centre and the proposed housing development.

It would provide 18,813 sq m of floorspace. Kirklees officials estimate there would be room for 75 jobs in warehousing and 444 industrial positions.

There would be two access points off Crosland Road and one from Lindley Moor Road.

The development of the second site would mean Crosland Road would be reduced from a 60mph zone to 30mph.

A third employment site has been identified to the south of the proposed data centre, between Crosland Road and Laund Road.

The four-hectare site would have room for four units with a total floorspace of 6,178sq m.

Phase 3 could provide 25 jobs in warehousing and 146 in industry.

The sub-committee will rule on the data centre and a related plan to build 294 homes at Cowrakes Road from 2pm tomorrow.