Call to develop on brownfield sites

Last week Kirklees released a questionnaire about their Local Plan, which will set out how the district will develop over the next 15 to 20 years.

Members of the Chidswell Action Group, who are opposing a housing and industrial development in Shaw Cross, say they will suggest sites which are not in the green belt.

Spokesman Mark Eastwood said: “We will be completing the questionnaire and putting together a comprehensive reasoned argument as to why the council should not be building on green belt at Chidswell.

“I shall also be proposing that as a group we compile a dossier of alternative, mainly brownfield sites, which should be put forward under the ‘call for sites’ exercise outlined in the early engagement process, thus alleviating the need for development on what little green space we have left in the area.”

Robert Bamforth, from the umbrella organisation Kirklees Community Action Network, said he was positive that Kirklees would not make the same mistakes it made with its Local Development Framework (LDF). The LDF was withdrawn after criticism from a government planning inspector.

He said: “This is just the first step in a much more positive engagement process. We have got to play our part in making sure this works for the people of Kirklees.”

“I am optimistic that we will end up with a plan that is much more robust.”