Go-ahead for housing development near Calderdale beauty spot despite residents' objections

Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee agreed to permit Richard Smith’s plans for the development at Crimsworth Dyeworks, Midgehole Road, Hebden Bridge, which members were told was very close to the National Trust’s Hardcastle Crags nature area.

Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said the development was clearly in a beautiful area with an interesting landscape .

There were traditional stone terraces nearby but he was happy to recommend the plans be approved for what was a modern development in a traditional setting.

It was formerly an industrial site, he said.

“The proposed scheme is far better than what’s there now,” he said.

Thirty objections had been received about the site, many about the design, said the briefing papers to councillors.

Objector Helen Flage said the development would be in the most valued and beautiful landscape in the borough.

“But the design will be ugly, intrusive and not in keeping with the architecture of the area, and should be refused,” she said.

Ms Flage said officers had not obtained a correct appraisal to inform their assessment of its suitability for the area and the design was more fit for a town centre, a random assortment of windows and doors meaning it would be “visibly jarring.”

“The character is not suitable for this site at all and it will act as a blot on the landscape of a beauty spot in Calderdale,” she said.

She was investigating the possibility of asking for a judicial review into the assessment, she said.

The council’s Planning lead Richard Seaman said the draft planning report had been referred to a planning barrister before it was published.

“Clearly, if the barrister had advised the document was susceptible to legal challenge it would not have been placed on the agenda this afternoon,” he said.

Officers were satisfied the designer’s modern interpretation of development using natural stone at what had been an industrial site could be supported, he said.

The applicant Mr Smith, who owns the works, said he had spent his working life in the dyeing industry and it was with great sadness he sold the business to an Elland company after 26 years in 2009, which managed to save most of the 23 jobs.

“In an ideal world we would still have a business with my son and daughter managing it. Eventually we got permission to develop the site,” he said.

Mr Smith said he had co-operated at every stage with planners over numerous meetings to develop an acceptable design.

His agent, Nick Willock, also pointed out the site was a windfall brownfield site for the council, and developing it meant less need to develop green belt land in Calderdale.