Bid for more time to build

Park Crescent Limited won outline permission for a retirement home and business or industrial units on the Mirfield 25 site in 2009.

It was given on the basis that work would begin within three years, but a full application had still not been made when the permission expired last October.

Yesterday, the Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee was asked to consider extending the permission by a further three years.

Agent Iain Bath said the economic climate since 2009 meant Park Crescent had not been able to do anything with the site off Leeds Road.

But he said it was still committed and had interest from three local firms.

Engineering firm David Brown had won planning permission for a centre of excellence for gear manufacture and a wind innovation centre in January 2012, but shelved its plans earlier this year.

Coun Kath Taylor (Con, Mirfield) said: “This seems to never go away and there are so many rumours about this site. I think it proves this site is totally unfeasible.

“I can’t think of anything worse than being stuck in a care home up there with industry all around it.”

Officers had advised councillors to refer the application to Kirklees’ planning and highways committee with a recommendation of conditional approval, which they did.

A report said: “There have been no significant material changes in circumstances to justify refusing.”

The application was first approved in October 2009 after it was referred to the Secretary of State.

The latest application prompted eight letters of objection, including concerns about traffic and flooding.

Planning agent Robert Halstead also submitted a lengthy objection on behalf of Mirfield Town Council.

When the town council met on Tuesday, it agreed to pay a further £1,000 to retain Mr Halstead’s services.

Coun Vivien Lees-Hamilton, said: “We’ve gone so far that I’m loathed to stop at the final hurdle. It’s an important issue for all the people who live round that area.”