Objectors question if infrastructure at Shelf and Northowram can cope with more houses

The session, hosted by Planning Inspector Katie Child, heard hundreds of new homes could by built in the areas if sites were allocated in the plan.

Regarding a proposed site at Westercroft Lane on the edge of Northowram and Shelf, Philip Dawes, for Calderdale Council, said the aim was to keep separate Westercroft hamlet from the new development.

Brian Crossley, of Shelf and Northowram Local Plan Forum, said the site was unsustainable.

“It does provide an important last green buffer from the urban area of Northowram to the hamlet of Westercroft.

“I really would not want to see this development and I don’t think it is a sustainable site,” he said.

Mr Crossley it did not meet criteria laid down, for example the nearest GP surgery was 1,000 metres away.

“Generally, the local primary school is full.

“There is no proposal in the Infrastructure Development Plan for any increased capacity at that school,” he said.

Mr Crossley raised similar issues about a number of other sites.

Highway and access concerns were raised about land off Cock Hill Lane and Wade House Road, Shelf.

Highways officer Andrew Dmoch said he was happy with vehicle access points and the hearing heard negotiations with house owners were taking place to allow junction improvement work. There was more route choice, he said.

Mr Crossley said Cock Hill Lane was the quickest route to a school and, being steep, narrow and winding, was dangerous and it would be naive to think people would not continue to use it.

Philip Dawes, for the council, said it was subject to Masterplanning and capacity was being reduced.

At West Street and Halifax Road, Shelf, Mr Crossley argued allowing the site’s inclusion would mean losing an important wildlife corridor between two green areas. Mr Dawes said only a small part would be affected.

Regarding land off Hall Lane, Northowram, Ms Child raised the site’s mining history.

Mr Dawes said mitigation could make it safe but resident John Hegney was unconvinced and said any tampering with it risked subsidence and sinkhole activity.

Anthony Rae, of Calderdale Friends of the Earth, said the site raised traffic, particularly cumulative impact, access and loss of green belt issues.

Earlier concerns were echoed by objectors over sites near Soaper Lane, Burned Road and Shelf Cricket Ground.

Mr Crossley argued a site at Hud Hill Farm, Northowram, had been graded as “not developable nor desirable” – the council argued while not desirable it was achievable.

Mr Crossley said an isolated, secluded site which “defines tranquility” at Windmill Crescent, Northowram, should be removed from allocation.