Green light for 75 new homes at former Brighouse quarry site

Calderdale Council Planning Committee members seemed to be shaping up to refuse Hard York Ltd’s application for quarry recovery and outline consent for homes at Pond Quarry, Lightcliffe Road.

But concerns about being able to defend a refusal against officers’ recommendations meant eventually a slim majority agreed to be mindful to permit the application, subject to conditions and a legal agreement covering some affordable housing, highway, open space and biodiversity matters.

Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) was concerned about distress which could be caused to residents through dust and noise resulting from readying the site, work which was estimated to take two to three years, and the impact on rural roads around the area and junctions at Brighouse and Hipperholme.

Sarah Dimmock, speaking for around 150 objectors, challenged the description of “temporary” and voiced ecological, loss of green space and air quality concerns.

However an agent for the applicants said measures were in place to address issues.