Proposals to build new homes on Calderdale golf course discussed by leaders

The plan will determine where homes and businesses might be able to be build in Calderdale over the next 15 years.

Planning Inspector Katie Child, overseeing the hearings, asked if the site at West End Golf Club, Paddock Lane, Halifax, was in active use.

Iain Crouch, for Philip S. Ryley and Co, confirmed it was as he explained that the area proposed for development contained one of the course’s holes and part of a second.

He said it was proposed that those parts of the course be relocated onto land currently owned by the council.

He said that would take up around a third of the adjoining land, with plans to retain sports pitches and enhance the area of special scientific interest (SSI).

“The proposal is to use money from the sale of golf club land to improve the clubhouse and course plus improving the other areas spoken about, on a peppercorn rent for 125 years,” he said.

King Cross junior football club and Friends of Roils Head were keen to see a football pitch to come back into use and the SSI area improved by a management scheme, said Mr Crouch – but agreement between all parties and the council had still to be reached.

Comments sought for a proposed site at Horley Green Works, Claremount, saw opposition from David Witcher, of the Shibden Valley Society.

Also representing Halifax Civic Trust he said they did not believe the council had demonstrated exceptional circumstances to remove land from the green belt.

It had been included to help make up the numbers at a site vulnerable to urban spread, he said.

Philip Dawes, for the council, said the authority did not consider development there would have an impact since it was currently in commercial use next to previously developed land and some green field.

Regarding increasing capacity at a site at Near Royd, Ovenden, to around 500 homes, Adrian Rose, representing Rodney Greenwood, said a scheme had been submitted with an access which they were confident would work. He said they were in talks with house builders interested in the site.

Access to a site at Wood Lane, Ovenden, caused resident Sean Bamforth some concerns relating to the footpath, a bridge and the risk of flooding. He told the hearing that the road was “cut off” in heavy rain.

Helen Clement, for the council, said a flood risk assessment would be required.

Roger Lee, of Roger Lee Planning, asked for an omitted site at Claremount, owned by his clients Dave and Wendy Wade, to be included in the plan, explaining it mainly contained derelict buildings and was part of previously developed land.