Mirfield planning row has become a 'war of attrition', campaigners claim
A planning row over a village field has become a “war of attrition”, campaigners claim, as a decades-long housing battle looks set to stretch into new legislation.
Bellway Homes has, over 30 years, submitted five sets of plans for its land at Balderstone Hall Field in Mirfield, with each bid until now either refused or withdrawn.
But with new rules coming into force at the end of October, meaning councillors might no longer oversee the decision, there are fears for what it might mean.
The whole process has become a “war of attrition”, claim the Save Mirfield group, wearing down planners and local people despite more than 500 written objections.
“We won't give up,” they warned. “This must and should go to a planning committee due to the history of four failed applications and public opposition.”
The plans, submitted to Kirklees Council, would see 75 new homes on a 4.7 hectare site.
The land was previously safeguarded in the council’s Local Plan, meaning it was deemed acceptable for housing but no development would take place until at least 2031.
But with Kirklees Council now unable to prove a five-year housing supply, sites such as this can be considered for "sustainable" development.
Bellway has said this changes the planning landscape – and its development would meet critical needs with an acute shortage of housing.
Campaigners, raising fears over traffic, claim plans would create a "dangerous bottleneck", but developers argue amendments and a second exit would ease any woes.
Earlier this year questions were raised over the site, housing un-excavated Bronze Age human remains, with findings from the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service (WYAAS).
Mapping the ancient field systems must be a "priority", it outlined, while Bellway said these kinds of findings can usually be accommodated by planning conditions.
Around 100 residents turned out to a rally opposed to the plans.
Group chair Cheryl Tyler said this strength of feeling must be taken into account.
Numerous bids have been submitted over the years with the first dismissed at appeal on highways grounds and with the latest going live in December last year.
New planning rules, coming into effect at the end of this month, now aim to speed up the planning process for local councils.
It will mean that only larger projects, which are significant to an area, will go before councillors and local planning officers will decide on the remainder.
The Save Mirfield group argues this plan should be heard by a full planning committee.
A spokesperson for Bellway Homes said: “Mirfield has an ongoing need for new homes, and we believe this proposal can make a positive contribution to meeting local housing demand, including the delivery of affordable housing.
“The proposals have been supported by a range of technical assessments, and we will continue to engage constructively with the council and relevant stakeholders as the application progresses.”