Plans for 33 homes on 'eyesore' site up for review over 20 council safety hurdles

Previously described as a “long-standing eyesore” by the former chair of the Milnsbridge Enhancement Group, initial plans for the construction of 33 homes on a plot of land at Dowker Street in Milnsbridge were approved earlier this year.

The green light to build a mix of apartments and homes with one to three bedrooms was handed to developers Westshield.

Yet months later, the latest updates on the build show the developers have had to gain approval for the discharge of 20 different conditions to assure Kirklees Council that the site is safe to build on.

Five of these conditions alone relate to water and flooding, as Milnsbridge sits in a steep valley, with the specific site sitting metres away from the River Colne. Submitted on July 8, the developers were required to show proof that the new homes would not cause flooding.

Part of these conditions also included an inspection of the underground culvert that carries water to Longwood Brook to ensure it is structurally sound and would not overflow.

In 2025, the initial survey could not proceed because the water was “above waist height” and needed to “come down” for a team to enter the culvert.

It is understood that a full drainage layout was later submitted on June 29 as part of the full discharge of conditions document, which was submitted on July 8.

Other conditions included four relating to contaminated land and safety, three relating to construction management and the environment and another seven relating to the road layout and the structure of the proposed houses.

If the discharge of conditions is accepted, developers will be one step closer to building on the site.