More time granted for Mirfield 25 development

Developers who hope to create 900 jobs by building on Mirfield Moor have been given more time to start work.
Mirfield MoorMirfield Moor
Mirfield Moor

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 work would begin within three years, but a full application had not been made when permission expired last October.

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Yesterday, Kirklees Council’s planning and highways committee agreed to extend the permission by a further three years.

Planning agent Robert Halstead told the committee new planning legislation, which has not yet been passed, stated that when a developer wanted to build offices outside a town centre, tests should be done to see if the offices can be accommodated within the town centre first. He said the council should carry out this test before granting approval.

But the developer’s agent Iain Bath said the development was acceptable under current legislation.

And he said three companies were interested in the site and waiting for the council to approved the extended time limit.

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The committee received eight letters of objection from members of the public, along with objections from Mirfield Town Council.

The committee heard the scheme would create up to 900 jobs, and the developers would provide highway improvements along Leeds Road and in Roberttown, a travel plan, a minibus and routing of construction traffic.

Coun Andrew Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) said: “This development is in accordance with the up-to-date plan.

“Nothing has changed.

Coun Eric Firth (Lab, Dewsbury East) said: “I sat on the committee when the original decision was taken and I see little has changed.

“This is a good application for this site.”

Members voted unanimously to grant the extended time limit.

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