Calderdale village residents ‘disappointed’ with council over new homes approval

Last week, Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee approved in principle seven to nine dwellings in Bradshaw, west of Queensbury, on a strip of grazing land between The Golden Fleece pub and Bradshaw Primary School on Bradshaw Lane.

There were 39 letters of objection, which included concerns about flooding, traffic, and effects on the rural character of an area previously designated Green Belt land.

The land is owned by winemaker Jason Robertshaw who told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) ‘the development will reduce existing flood risk’, though the new home designs are yet to be finalised.

On 20 October, two councillors – Katie Kimber (Labour, Luddendenfoot) and Jamie Furlong (Green, Todmorden West) – voted to allow the development in principle after hearing the flood risk can be addressed by an underground water storage tank.

But Bradshaw residents have hit out at the four Reform councillors who might have used their majority to vote down the plan.

Retiree Graham Sellers, 74, said: “[Leader of Calderdale Council] Dan Sutherland said he would oppose anything in terms of building on Green Belt.

“They use the excuse that in 2023 that Labour changed certain parts of the Green Belt to Grey Belt.

"But whatever is happening we should still expect Reform to oppose building on it.

“They said it’s not going to affect how Bradshaw looks, but they are going to build seven to nine houses in that field which is raised by 1.7m from the road. It’s going to look like New York.”

The site has been designated Grey Belt land, which is land within the Green Belt that does not strongly contribute to core Green Belt purposes.

Green Belt purposes are checking unrestricted sprawl; preventing neighbourhoods merging; and preserving the special character of an area.

The planning team said the proposed site would not increase the spread of the village as it is in the middle of Bradshaw, running alongside the main road between the pub’s beer garden and the primary school.

Addressing the Grey Belt changes made by the Labour Government in December 2024, 78-year-old retired civil engineer Terry Craven, whose living room directly overlooks the proposed site, added: “Central Government have not chosen the plots even if they have changed the rules.”

Nine villagers met with the LDRS to share their concerns – eight of whom voted in Reform councillors (Daniel Sutherland, Andrew Tagg, and Nikki Kelly) for their ward of Illingworth and Mixenden.

As well as disquiet with the planning decision, residents shared upset about a Facebook post by Mixenden Reform made on Wednesday (October 21) which said the party will do ‘all it can to oppose all Green Belt development’.

Coun Tagg, who is Mayor of Calderdale, did oppose the development in a letter to the Committee, but is not a member so could not vote.

Given the chance to reject the application, Reform councillors Stephen Mycroft (Brighouse), Paul Dale (Ovenden), David Small (Rastrick), and Ruth Walker (Greetland) abstained.

Retiree Ian Robertshaw, 65, (who is no relation to the applicant Mr Robertshaw) said of the vote: “I am disappointed with Reform because they have not stood up for the people of Bradshaw.”

Responding to the concerns, a spokesperson for Calderdale Council said: “We don’t comment on individual planning applications.”

This week’s planning meeting heard the development may still be canned if the developer fails to address concerns about flooding.

The council’s flood risk assessment completed in May this year found no historical records of flooding on the site, including from the Environmental Agency or anecdotally.

But an undated photo of flooding outside the pub was submitted to council in July, and a printed copy of the same photo was waved at councillors by Bradshaw resident Chris Major, who lives on Lynton Grove near the site.

Bradshaw residents told the LDRS the photo was taken two years ago.

Villagers also shared a video of flooding during the February 2020 Storm Ciara floods.

Mr Major told the meeting alternative photos put before the Committee of the development site on a ‘glorious summer’s day’ were ‘misleading’ and claimed the planning approval was ‘based on lies’.

But Chair Coun Mycroft assured Mr Major he had seen the photo and any decision would be ‘based on the evidence and policy’.

The site is a Critical Drainage Area, but councillors heard the proposed storage tank would reduce the run-off rate from 3.7 litres per second to 1.8 litres per second during a one in 100-year storm.

A flood risk assessment also suggested diverting surface water to an existing culvert.

Planning officer Osian Perks assured councillors: “If the site can’t be made safe, and it increases flood risk elsewhere, we can refuse a technical details consent application.”

Bradshaw villagers also fear the development will reduce pavement space during the school-run.

The LDRS has seen a photo of cars parked along the length of the pavement that runs opposite the proposed development site, only leaving a much smaller section of pavement for able-bodied pedestrians.

Applicant Jason Robertshaw, who also owns a vineyard in Surrey, told the LDRS: “The principle of the development – including access and flood risk – were considered by the relevant statutory consultees as part of the planning process, and no objection was raised, which is why permission in principle was granted by the Committee.

“We have demonstrated that the development will reduce existing flood risk in the area by reducing the rate of water discharge from the site, rather than adding to it.

“The remaining details – including design – will be finalised at the next stage of the application. We’ll be happy to comment further once that’s been finalised.”