Tweaks sought for new 233-home Elland estate near school
Permission for some amendments to a 233-home new development near an Elland school, including re-positioning some homes, are being sought to overcome some construction issues.
In 2024, Calderdale planning councillors unanimously approved Crest Nicholson Operations Limited’s application to build homes of a range of sizes at land next to Old Earth Primary School at Lower Edge Road, Elland.
But the company says it needs to make some changes and has applied to the council to amend the planning conditions to allow this.
Around 20 of the homes are affected.
A supporting letter with the application says that in the case of plots 192-210, the approved layout has lead to very deep drainage required which, combined with “challenging” ground conditions, has created some health and safety and practicality concerns.
The revised scheme has the same number of plots and mix of homes, but it allows for a drainage easement route to pass through at a much shallower depth.
It has also pulled plots away from the railway and broken up the frontage parking of plots 192-196, says the developer, who think this change will benefit the scheme.
Plots 1-3 will also be slightly repositioned due to an existing pole-mounted electrical substation to front of plot 1 requiring a six metre stand-off, if planners agree.
Additionally, various plots will be tweaked to ensure M4(2) compliance – this means the homes will be accessible and adaptable.
Following detailed engineering design it was apparent several plots would not achieve this without some changes, says the covering letter with the application.
A number of other tweaks include the position of a pedestrian access agreed agreed with school – this will mean access to the school can be made via Grasmere Drive.
One of the statutory consultees on the proposals, West Yorkshire Archaeology Service, has described the changes as “slight”, and do not raise concerns.
The application, number 26/00258/VAR, to vary the approved plans 23/01229/FUL, can be viewed on the council’s Planning Portal.