Go-ahead for Lightcliffe housing scheme

Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee approved plans for The Manor House residential home in Wakefield Road to be knocked down and 14 new properties built in its place.

David Wilson Homes has already secured planning permission for 28 houses on the land immediately to the north and east of the site.

Councillors voted unamiously in favour of the second phase of the scheme.

Committee chairman Daniel Sutherland said: “This is a very good proposal and will benefit the area.”

A spokesperson for David Wilson Homes said the development will commence over the next five years and the houses being built will be ideal for first time buyers and families.

The plans say the positioning of the development will preserves the character and appearance of Wakefield Road by locating traditional two storey dwellings to the site frontage with the taller buildings to the rear of the site, hidden behind the mature trees.

A variety of house types. will be built including larger three and four bedroom semi-detached and terraced properties, and four and five bedroom detached properties.

Phase one of the development is set to incorporate a children’s play area at the entrance into the development.

Concerns were raised about the loss of a care home facility. However, planning officers said that protecting community asset is limited to shops, post offices, public houses and hotels, and does not extend to care homes.

The care home is in private ownership and could close at any time without involvement from the Council.

The agents also highlighted in their proposals that predicted traffic will have negligible impact on highway network and will reflect th enumber of exisiting cars already entering the site.

In a recent Care Quality Commission report the nursing home was rated as “requires improvement” after the health watchdog found breaches of Health and Social Care Act regulations.

The nursing home has been established for the last 24 years.

The Manor House Residential Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 30 older people, some of whom may be living with dementia.