Brockholes: More than 50 objections to housing plans

Objectors say the development is too near a footpath used by children

More than 50 objections have been lodged against resubmitted plans for homes in a Holmfirth village.

An outline application for five homes on a plot of grassland by Oakes Lane in Brockholes has been submitted to Kirklees Council.

Landscaping would be determined at a later date, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

An earlier application for seven homes was refused, with those plans deemed to be "overdevelopment".

The new application will be decided by the council's district planning committee on Thursday due to the amount of objections lodged.

Despite this, it said, council officers recommended its approval.

Among the objections was the claim the development is an "accident waiting to happen" because it is close to the "well-used" Duckholes footpath used by schoolchildren.

Holme Valley Parish Council also opposed the plans because of "over-intensification" of the site, and flooding concerns.

However, council officers said they felt concerns had been adequately addressed.

A previous application for the same site was refused and the appeal dismissed in 2001 because the proposed access point was "unacceptable" on safety grounds.

Also cited, was the "inefficient" use of the land, and a requirement at the time that meant brownfield sites should be developed before greenfield sites. 

The applicant said the current application has overcome the previous reasons for refusal.