'The numbers have changed' - Reform UK looking to remove some Local Plan homes sites in Calderdale

Leader of Calderdale Council, Coun Dan Sutherland, says the numbers have changed and his administration will be looking to alter the authority’s Local Plan, which identifies land where new homes and businesses might be built into the 2030s.

Coun Sutherland’s Reform UK group took control of the council in May’s elections.

In the case of housing, and allowing for sites were homes were already approved but not yet built, space for approaching 10,000 new homes was identified by he Local Plan – Government requires every local authority to have one.

The plan was approved in spring 2023 following a lengthy inquiry process which eventually saw Planning Inspector Katie Child signing off the plan.

But it has been very controversial in some parts of Calderdale where sites including some on green belt were identified for new homes, including around Brighouse, Rastrick, Hipperholme, Greetland, Northowram and Shelf.

Thousands of new homes are included in garden village plans for two sites near Brighouse at Thornhill and Woodhouse.

Planning applications have started to come through for some sites, but Coun Sutherland – who as a Labour Cabinet member was involved in producing the Local Plan – says the numbers have changed.

The Local Plan is due to start undergoing a five year review next year.

Coun Sutherland (Illingworth and Mixenden) said his party had pledged in the local election to protect green space from over-development.

In a video message posted on the council’s social media channels, Coun Sutherland said: “As you know many green belt sites are proposed for the development of new housing and other constructions.

“But more recent evidence has shown that the population of Calderdale is not growing.

“We will be looking at how we can review those sites, where possible remove some of those sites, from the Local Plan and focus on building housing that is actually appropriate for the needs of local people.”

Coun Sutherland said Calderdale had an ageing population and what would be needed were developments appropriate for that ageing population.

“Extra care sites, bungalows, these developments will free up family homes for those who need them – it’s about the right type of housing in the right places,” he said.

This would be in contrast to the previous Labour administration’s housing plan – members argued Calderdale has to plan for enough new homes to sustain population growth and economic activity, not just “stand still.”

The then Cabinet members argued it was important to provide homes that younger adults and families could move into, so they are not forced to leave the borough or be priced out by limited supply.