Homes plan approved on former Calderdale mill site that was demolished following huge blaze

Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee were unanimously mindful to permit Mr Krell’s plans for the homes at Canalside Mill, subject to conditions, and councillors were very impressed with the design.

Coun Victoria Poritt (Lab, Elland) said she liked the roofline and nod to the site and area’s mill heritage and terraces.

“It’s a modern interpretation of that, it can be quite a special development,” she said.

Coun Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park) agreed: “The plans are interesting and unusual and that beckoning back to industrial heritage is really special.”

It was a good, innovative design people would see as they travelled up the Calder Valley, said Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe).

Coun Colin Hutchinson (Lab, Skircoat) said the courtyard and shared space were a really attractive feature and one which would bring people who lived there together.

Committee chair Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) said the mix of industrial and modern fitted in with the landscape of this part of Calderdale. “I love it,” he said.

The council had received ten letters of objection, including concerns about flooding and traffic, and about preserving the mill, but its unsafe condition following a fire in summer 2019 meant it already had to be demolished for safety reasons.

Ward councillor Coun Scott Patient (Lab, Luddenden Foot) spoke in support of the application which he said was at a gateway site for Mytholmroyd, and he praised how the design for the homes reflected its mill heritage.

He hoped, with Mytholmroyd having experienced several years of traffic lights while flood alleviation work was carried out, that disruption to the A646 was kept to a minimum while work on the site was undertaken.

“But I am wholly satisfied with how things have progressed, it is a really great design,” he said.

Agent Sam Deakin of Moreton Deakin Associates, Hebden Bridge, said contemporary design was not appropriate for the site with the one which had been produced reflecting mill history, including a northlight roof.

“Design is a bit subjective but we hope it is one the people of Hebden Bridge will like, and yourselves,” he said.

Mr Deakin said he believed the site would not long lay dormant with the applicant keen to realise the project.

Planning officer Maria Bailey said the plan was part retrospective as part of the mill building had to be demolished for safety reasons following the fire.

The Canal and River Trust had been unhappy with initial plans but welcomed this redesign, she said.

Councillors asked questions about flooding and drainage concerns and were told the council and the Environment Agency were both happy with drainage solutions subject to some planning conditions.