Hundreds against hybrid plan to build 75 new homes on Brighouse quarry site

The application, submitted by Hard York Ltd, is for engineering works for quarry recovery and also seeks outline consent to build the homes at Pond Quarry, Lightcliffe Road, Brighouse, and it will come before Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee when it meets on Tuesday, December 1 (from 2pm, with the meeting screened via the council’s YouTube channel).

The council has received 118 letters of objection to the application in addition to a 140-signature petition in which the signees also object to the proposed development.

The petitioners object citing concerns about the impact of traffic during construction and operation of the site, disruption to residents during both infilling and constrauction phases, and the impact on wildlife.

In more general terms they are also concerned about increased pressure on local services generated by the new homes against a backdrop – the council’s draft Local Plan, which is now in a second phase of hearings and is identifying space for thousands of homes in south east Calderdale – which they believe is leading to disproportionate amounts of development in Brighouse.

Similar concerns are raised by those who have submitted individual letters of objection to the council.

Planning officers are recommending councillors be mindful to approve the application, which at this stage has all matters reserved apart from access, with design and layout aspects considered at a later stage.

They say this would be subject to 33 planning conditions specified below and a section 106 agreement, which is likely to amount to tens of thousands of pounds, covering affordable housings, highway, open space and biodiversity matters.

Ward councillor Coun Scott Benton (Con, Brighouse) says there is considerabe concern about the application within the community and he also strongly objects to the application believing “adverse impacts” including noise, disruption and inconvenience are not outweighed by the gain of housing, with similar issues brought to the fore during clearing of the site.

“This work gave an indication of the disruption which will be created if this application is approved and which will no doubt last for several years,” he said.

Coun Benton, also cites highway, wildlife and infrastructure concerns.