Decision expected on controversial plan to build homes on ancient water meadow in Mirfield

The contentious development at Granny Lane will go before before Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee.

Campaign groups Save Mirfield and Granny Lane Area Action Group (GLAAG) have put up a concerted fight to prevent homes being built on an ancient water meadow.

The proposal has been twice deferred, once when objectors provided video footage of flooding by Storm Ciara and secondly when many of the houses planned were found to be too small.

In the latest report the Lead Local Flood Authority - which is actually Kirklees Council - has raised no objections to the homes scheme.

However it says building work will not be allowed to get underway until a water and land drainage scheme has been approved.

Additionally West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service wants to investigate “past human activity” within the development site, which will also mean a delay to the start of building work.

Also in Mirfield, officers are recommending that a plan to build 63 homes on a filled-in former quarry off Old Bank Lane be refused due to the proximity of a landfill gas hazard.