Police fear office park could be magnet for criminals

Keyland Developments Ltd has put in an outline planning application for the former Bradley waste water treatment works at Station Road in Bradley, Huddersfield.

If granted, the permission would provide space for up to 4,720 square metres of floor space.

The applicant wants permission for various uses, ranging from offices and light industry to storage and distribution facilities.

Kirklees planning officers say the outline plans are considered to be acceptable in principle.

A report to be considered by a planning committee on January 3 says: “The proposal would lead to the redevelopment of a brownfield site for new business use which would make good use of the land available, representing sustainable economic growth.

“Access arrangements for the site are considered to be acceptable, and the impact of the development on highway safety, ecology, amenity, drainage and flood risk, crime prevention and the railway line are all considered to be acceptable subject to appropriate conditions.”

The council advertised the plans by site notices and through letters to residents but no comments from the public have been received.

The closest houses, a row of railway cottages, are around 50 metres away.

Some concerns have been raised by West Yorkshire Police because of previous crime and anti-social behaviour which has previously affected businesses based on the Leeds Road corridor.

Existing businesses have had to introduce crime prevention measures and in some cases have relocated because of crime problems, the report notes.

The police have raised concerns about future security at the proposed industrial site.

The report adds: “The police architectural liaison officer has raised concerns with regard to security. The former Yorkshire Water premises itself has experienced criminal attacks in recent years.

“It is obvious from seeing tall palisade fencing surrounding existing adjacent businesses that future redevelopment of the site would need to incorporate appropriate crime prevention measures.”

The applicant has suggested opening up access to the site via the nearby Calder Valley Greenway but the police believe that this could cause problems for crime prevention.

Police advice is for the construction of a robust perimeter fence and gate and for the installation of a CCTV system.

The police comments have been passed to the developer so that they can be considered before final designs for the site are drawn up.