A rallying call has been made for the public to have their say on housing plans for fields between Brockholes and Honley.

An application by the BMS Group is due to be decided by councillors in December.

But concerns have been raised that they will only be asked to rule on ‘phase one’ of a potential three phases - with hundreds more homes possible for the site off Woodhead Road.

Clr Charles Greaves and Clr Edgar Holroyd-Doveton, both Holme Valley North Independents, are urging the two communities to have a say before the committee meets to rule on the plans.

Site of proposed housing development, Woodhead Road near junction with Robinson Lane, Honley
Site of proposed housing development, Woodhead Road near junction with Robinson Lane, Honley

Clr Greaves said: “This application has been running for so long, I think people have forgotten about it.

“Initially it is just this one area of housing, but an overview shows roads leading to two other areas and potentially two more phases of housing.

“I think councillors need to be made aware of how many houses are planned over all. It’s not just 51 there could be 251.”

The land is classed as Provisional Open Land (POL) and Kirklees Council has lost several appeals recently for POL sites, with Planning Inspectors overruling councillors’ rejection of applications.

Kirklees’ lack of an up to date Local Plan - a planning policy stating land use - is one reason behind it.

Jeremy Child, of Acumen architects, agent for the developers, said: “We’ve submitted a full viability appraisal which includes £277,000 education contribution, 30% affordable housing and there will be conditions as part of the Section 106 agreement which will see improvements to footpaths.

Site of proposed housing development, Woodhead Road near junction with Robinson Lane, Honley
Site of proposed housing development, Woodhead Road near junction with Robinson Lane, Honley

“We had to include roads to the wider site which falls out of our control so our application does not prejudice the wider allocation of neighbouring sites.

“This is a sustainable location and this application is for outline purposes only.”

Further details about the councillors’ campaign can be found at http://preservehonleyandbrockholes.org.uk/ and on Facebook on the Preserve Honley and Brockholes page.