Council tears up development deal after rejecting town plan

A year ago, a planning inspector decided on balance to reject the controversial "wonky homes" design for houses, flats, shops, offices and an underground car park.

Calderdale has now confirmed that it has torn up the agreement it had with Hebden Royd Development LLP but the company says it could mount a legal challenge.

It could also submit revised plans to satisfy the inspector's concerns about the height of some of the proposed buildings.

""We have no wish to foist anything on the community which it does not want and we believe that further informed debate is required," said a company spokesman.

"No development can take place without the owner's consent which the council claims to have unilaterally withdrawn but this unilateral withdrawal is open to more than one interpretation."

Council leader Janet Battye (Lib Dem, Calder) said she was concerned about the scale of the development and wanted local people to be listened to.

"The Garden Street development was a specific proposal that came out of our parking review and it now seems to have run its course," she said.

The scheme caused uproar in the town when it was mooted with more than 3,000 people signing a petition or making representations against it. Hebden Royd Town Council also strongly opposed the ideas.

Objections include its scale, the design being inconsistent with the character of the town; being too intensive for the site and destroying the locality and tourist appeal of the town; and leading to increased traffic congestion and noise pollution.

So strong were the feelings aroused that allegations of vandalism and death threats were said to have been made against Hebden Royd Development LLP and its architects.

Anthony Rae spokesman for the Garden Street Action Group said: "Without this secret agreement, the developer can't access the site even if they secured planning permission; in these circumstances it is not clear why they might want to resubmit their plans."