Former Halifax Tower House Hotel to be converted into houses despite misgivings

Planning councillors in Calderdale heard guests at Halifax’s former Tower House Hotel, or people using its restaurant and particularly large numbers who attended functions there would all have brought more vehicles than the new homes would.

Concerns about gritting a steep, unadopted drive in winter, flooding and drainage, and narrowness of the connecting highway were raised.

But Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) recalled when the hotel was in use.

“I have seen the car park absolutely rammed with cars – what about all the vehicles coming down there using the hotel, it must have been extensive at one time?” he said.

The applicant’s agent Adrian Rose said when it was a hotel Tower House had nine rooms, 50 covers in the restaurant and two function rooms which regularly held a couple of hundred guests.

Members of Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee agreed to permit plans submitted by Carmabel Developments to change the use of the hotel, at Pye Nest, function rooms and restaurant into five four-bedroomed dwellings and four three-bedroomed dwellings, involving partial demolition and new build.

One letter of objection had been received raising concerns including highway safety and impact building might have on foundations and ward councillor – and Mayor of Calderdale – Coun

Dot Foster (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) was concerned particularly about the effect of traffic on local roads she claimed were already at capacity.

Coun Stephen Baines (Con, Northowram and Shelf) said the only aspect of the application he had a problem with was the steep drive and wondered how it would be gritted in winter as the road was unadopted.

Officers said the driveway, while steep, was not steep enough to cause themt concern and it would be up to residents to ensure it was safe for them to use, for example by using a grit bin.

Coun Colin Hutchinson (Lab, Skircoat) was also concerned about flooding risk and the narrowness of the highway. Officers said Yorkshire Water would be involved in approving drainage systems.

Coun Kirton said: “The proposals make good use of a site no longer used as a hotel.”