Plans for new housing estate in Heckmondwike are thrown out

Plans to build 43 homes in Heckmondwike have been thrown out after the developer failed to complete work on access roads.
An aerial view of the siteAn aerial view of the site
An aerial view of the site

Officers with Kirklees Council said the failure to complete the first section of a four-phase roadworks scheme meant the the proposed estate at Park Farm, off Smithies Lane, would be “detrimental to highway safety”.

The site, which is within the Ponderosa Park complex and comprises of a number of industrial buildings, greenhouses and other buildings, last came before committee in August 2018 but dates back to 2015.

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Highways staff told the Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee that work on phase one had begun but had not been completed. Workmanship was described as “incorrect” and not to standard, meaning the road could not be adopted by the council.

They said a bond paid by the applicant was still sitting with the authority but that more money was required to complete the work, which was a pre-commencement condition prior to house-building getting underway. The amount of money involved was not made public.

Adam Cook, owner of Park Farm and Ponderosa Business Park, said having paid a bond for the first phase of works he was reluctant to pay further monies towards the remainder of the access road.

He asked: “Where do we stand now? The council hasn’t done its due diligence and done the first part of the road. With the bond being paid it’s scuppered our plans to move further on.”

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