Go-ahead urged for children's hospice project on 'green' site

The West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust charity has submitted plans for a 2.5m hospice on land off Fell Greave Road, near Bradford Road in Brackenhall, Huddersfield.

The site is a field next to woodland and was previously designated urban green space in Kirklees Council's planning blueprint.

A report to the Huddersfield area planning committee, which meets tomorrow, is recommending councillors approve the plans.

The report says the proposal is for a children's hospice and respite centre in two buildings, both of two storeys, linked by a covered walkway.

Accommodation includes reception, games and play rooms, office and dining areas within a house and, in a separate annexe, bedrooms with en suite facilities.

The Forget Me Not Trust is proposing to have eight beds in the hospice, with stays for children varying from a weekend to several weeks. A staff of 30 is envisaged – 14 medical and 26 non-medical working in three shifts. The maximum number on site would be 14.

The trust, which already runs a respite care-at-home service, hopes to create a formal garden close to the house and annexe, as well as a more informal garden and a landscaping scheme which will include a planting strip.

Six letters of objection have been sent to the council and nine in support.

Objectors say the site is unsuitable because it is green space and forms the setting for a group of listed buildings.

Critics also claimed that an environmental survey of the site does not cover the full range of flora and fauna.

They also said that a nearby mobile phone mast will expose sick children to emissions.

Supporters of the scheme say the facility "can be nothing but good for the community", the report says.

"The site chosen would appear an ideal location for such a facility, with minimal impact on neighbouring housing," it adds.

Another supporter is quoted in the report as saying: "This is a worthwhile and much needed project for the Kirklees/Calder-

dale area."

Council policy on green space building plans states that planning permission can be granted if it results in a specific community benefit.

The report says: "The proposal seeks to provide a service to a specific catchment area (Kirklees/Calderdale), and this is a health related facility. Confirmation of the need within this catchment area has been provided by the health authority and the primary care trust."

The planning officer's report concludes that the facility will benefit the community and it does satisfy planning guidelines.

The site had previously been granted planning permission for the same use (in 2006) and, the report says, nothing has changed since the original permission expired.

On the subject of how the hospice will affect neighbouring farm buildings, the report says that the hospice buildings are not expected to dominate the older buildings, which are grade II listed.

It says the bulk of the hospice is "not considered to be excessive, disproportionate or dominating".

It is urging councillors to pass the application, with conditions attached. These include a time limit of three years on work starting.

Developers must also submit a detailed landscape scheme before work starts.

Members of the committee meet in Huddersfield Town Hall tomorrow at 1pm.

Yesterday Peter Branson, chief executive of the charity, said construction could start within weeks if permission is granted, with a completion date next year.

A renewed fund-raising drive would be launched in January, he said.