Plan for 50 homes on waste ground given the go-ahead

Kirklees Council’s Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee conditionally approved proposals from Quality Social Housing to build 49 homes in Chickenley.

The development will be built on council-owned green field land off School Street, where a school was demolished 50 years ago.

Coun Cathy Scott said at the meeting last Friday: “This is welcome news for Dewsbury East, it’s much needed housing.

“I know local people are embracing it. The land has been empty for over 30 plus years, it’s just scrub land it has become a dumping ground.

“I fully support the application and my fellow ward councillors support it.

“I did like to hear that local residents are very interested in having the opportunity for these houses.”

But Coun Scott said she wanted local people to be considered first for the homes.

The plans include 13 two-bedroom semi-detached houses and 36 three-bedroom homes, with 14 affordable.

Developer Quality Social Housing held a public consultation in July, which was attended by 34 people.

The council has received 15 letters about the application.

Concerns were raised in some letters about access routes to the site, the proximity of it to private allotments and a loss of privacy to existing homes.

Agent David Halliday, of Halliday Clark Limited, said during the meeting: “At the public consultation meeting significant interest was shown from local residents who would like to move in to properties.

“All of these local residents have now registered their keen interest in the properties.”

The houses will be rent to buy homes, which means tenants can rent for up to 20 years with the option of purchase in the first five.

The site is allocated for housing under the Unitary Development Plan.

Mr Halliday told the meeting that, if approved, the first houses could be available by mid 2016 and could be completed by 2017.