Five of the biggest planning applications decided by Kirklees Council in 2025

With housing shortages reported nation-wide, the provision of new homes has been a hot topic for local authorities up and down the country. But Kirklees is under even more pressure after falling short of national requirements to have enough land suitable for accommodating five years’ worth of housing growth to meet local needs.

Even though the pressure is on, some large-scale plans have been turned down including 181-homes on a plot of land near Dewsbury, and 62-homes in Denby Dale. Below are some of the biggest housing plans to be determined by Kirklees Council this year:

97 homes confirmed for Gomersal

Nearly 100 homes can be brought to a site at Cliffe Lane, Gomersal, despite 79 objections from members of the community. One resident said: “The village of Gomersal is losing its identity and rural nature. The green spaces so important to the health of local residents are being removed at an alarming rate.”

The development will include two, three and four bedroomed-homes that are a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced, plus two apartment blocks containing one and two-bedroomed units. Permission extended to the demolition of an existing property to create an access point and came with several conditions attached.

Massive housing plan for Storthes Hall green-lit

Iconic accommodation that has housed thousands of Huddersfield students over the years will be torn down to make way for a new housing development. In April, Ubrique Investments Ltd, was granted outline planning permission for a development of up to 261 homes at Storthes Hall, Kirkburton.

With permission being outline, further permissions are needed before the development can be completed but the current consents allow for the demolition of the former blocks of student accommodation, as well as The Venue – a former on-site bar and restaurant. Listed assets like The Lodge Cottage and gate piers will remain, along with the reception building.

Fifty-nine comments were made in response, voicing concerns for the impact on roads, the area’s lack of services like doctors, schools and dentists, and the implications for local wildlife. But the council ultimately felt that the public benefits of the scheme outweighed the negatives.

Stocksmoor plan refused to residents’ relief

Under plans from Newett Homes, 50 properties would have been brought to a plot of greenfield land off Shepley Road. But this was met with huge backlash from the local community and Kirkburton ward councillor, John Taylor (Con).

Campaigners highlighted a long list of problems with the plans, arguing that they do not represent sustainable development. Among the issues raised were the proposed point of access being located on the ‘blind bend’ of a single track road, the area’s lack of amenities and transport links, and the impacts on the neighbouring ancient woodland.

More than 307 representations were made in response to the application, further demonstrating the strength of local feeling. The plans were ultimately turned down by the council over highways concerns.

62 homes refused at Denby Dale

Plans for 62-homes in Denby Dale were rejected by Kirklees Council after a drawn out planning battle. The controversial plans relating to Cliff Hill had been in the system since 2022, with several versions being turned down by Kirklees Council.

The latest application went before the Strategic Planning Committee in June after being deferred due to concerns around the site’s coal mining past and how the coal would be disposed of. Wording to prohibit the burning of extracted coal or its sale for commercial purposes had been updated at the request of the committee but this still wasn’t enough to get the application over the line.

However, when an earlier iteration of the plans was thrown out, the applicant lodged an appeal, arguing the grounds for refusal – which were the same as June’s – “cannot be justified”.

Permission for 181-homes near Dewsbury turned down

This month, the Strategic Planning Committee refused to grant outline permission for up to 181-homes at Heybeck Lane. The plot of land makes up a much larger housing allocation referred to as “Chidswell and Heybeck” which together, would hold around 1,500 homes.

The Heybeck Lane site has an interesting planning history, with outline permission previously granted in October 2024, before being quashed in a judicial review. The review, was brought about by members of the Chidswell Action Group (CAG) who have fought tirelessly to oppose the plan.

At the latest planning meeting, members of the committee, other elected representatives, and members of the public had some serious concerns, including those around the impact on the neighbouring ancient woodland, loss of a “green lung” and agricultural land, and a lack of biodiversity net gain on site.

They ultimately refused to grant planning permission, despite the applicant and council officers believing that issues had been adequately addressed.