Clash over controversial housing blueprint for Calderdale

A third stage of hearings into the draft plan, which will shape where new homes – around 9,970 of them – and businesses can be built into the 2030s, will begin in the spring, possibly from May 10.

But the opposition Conservative group leader and a ruling Labour group Cabinet member were at odds on the plan’s chances of being approved.

At the full meeting of Calderdale Council, Conservative group leader Coun Steven Leigh said Calderdale had just received a letter from Planning Inspector Katie Child, who has run the hearings, following the second phase of hearings which ended in December.

He said Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion, had reported to the council that the Inspector had not raised any fundamental concerns about the plan.

But he assessed things differently, he said, quoting Ms Child’s post-stage two hearings letter recently received saying there were a number of areas where further work and information was required.

This was necessary to demonstrate the plan was sound and legally complaint.

“She is saying it is not yet legally compliant. The task list is 27 pages long with 281 items that need to be resolved.

“The hearings should have finished by now but we are talking about further hearings.

“Now we are waiting for more consultations before we will even know if the plan is sound, legally compliant and deliverable,” said Coun Leigh (Con, Ryburn).

He asked Coun Scullion if she stood by her statement.

Coun Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said: “The answer is ‘yes’.”

She said if you looked around the country at what had happened with other authorities’ Local Plans there were some where inspectors had said they had “fundamental concerns” about them and suggested the councils withdraw them to rethink.

“None of these things have happened in Calderdale,” she said.

Coun Scullion agreed there were 281 items but some were relatively small and would be resolved quickly while others would need some more thought and provide more evidence.

“Had she had any major concerns she would have asked us to withdraw the plan and do more work at stage two or earlier.

“I hope we can conclude this process this year because people need homes in Calderdale,” she said.