Better parking approved for Halifax community and sports space

Calderdale Council planners have permitted Himmat Ltd’s application to change the use of some land to create 17 parking spaces, with room to manoeuvre, at the Raven Street Centre.

Improvements to the boundary can also now be made.

Himmat Ltd – a not-for-profit community organisation – say the site consists of enclosed grassland which has pedestrian and vehicle access from Hanson Lane.

It has historically been used for sports in conjunction with the Himmat project and Unique Community Hub.

The site includes a large football pitch, a smaller football pitch and also houses other activities, including other grass-based sports and the hard surfaces being used for junior cycling, planners were told.

But lack of adequate parking and turning is a real drawback, according to supporting statements with the application, and it is intended the changes could open up use of the site further.

The existing entrance has limited visibility for manoeuvring in and out of the site while parking is on loose hardcore which cannot be line marked.

Proposals include reducing the height of the existing retaining wall providing an unobstructed site line so that vehicles coming and going have improved visibility, planning officers heard.

Before the community groups started using the site, the land was in poor condition until Himmat, which delivers services for vulnerable young people from a range of backgrounds, brought it into use, according to supporting statements from agents for the application, Durkin Architectural Design.