Kirklees council urged to block Huddersfield apartment plans
Forty-four objectors are urging Kirklees Council to reject plans to bring two apartment blocks to the site of the former New Inn at Grange Moor.
Plans have been submitted to construct two apartment blocks containing ten and four homes respectively, and to convert the existing building into six apartments. This would see a total of 20 homes brought to the land at Briestfield Road.
The existing building that has stood vacant for around two years was formerly the New Inn and later became an Indian restaurant called Grameen Spice. The property is two-storeys and has an existing four-bedroom apartment on the first floor.
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Each new home would be one-bedroom with one parking space per apartment. The applicant also proposes cycle storage for 18 bikes.
The council’s Planning Sub-Committee for the Heavy-Woollen area will be making a decision on the application this Thursday (June 22).
Previously, the applicant wanted to bring 24 homes to the site but this was declined by the council for several reasons leading to a reduction of four units in the current application. The applicant also attempted to avoid the provision of affordable housing by submitting a viability assessment, but an independent assessor found that the homes could be provided.
Council Officers have recommended approval of the plans subject to several conditions. These include three affordable rental properties on-site, a £33k contribution to Public Open Space works within the area and £25k towards sustainable travel.
However, 44 residents disagree with the recommendations, taking to the planning portal to express their views. One objector wrote: “The development seems to have been designed for single occupancy dwellings considering the density that the flats have been squeezed into.
“This seems to be an opportunity to gain as much revenue as possible, while disregarding the need in the local area for dwellings for young couples or families.”
Another resident wrote: “The entrance to this site is far too close to the junction to accommodate even more cars, the traffic already stacks up waiting to join the main road as it is. We are a small village and our road space is already worrying without adding 24+ extra vehicles from this site entrance all queuing with their engines running, releasing extra emissions all over our village.
“The amount of dwellings proposed on this area of land is just not realistic, practical or sensible.”