Denholme industrial site plans refused by Bradford Council

The former Whitakers Joinery Works in Denholme The former Whitakers Joinery Works in Denholme

The future of what could potentially be Denholme’s biggest employment site is currently up in the air after Bradford Council threw out ambitious plans to transform it.

The former Whitakers Joinery Works, on Halifax Road, is described as being ripe for redevelopment and an ideal way to bring jobs to the village.

But plans to turn the building into several different businesses, including a cafe, furniture showroom, lawnmower repair shop, car sales, bike repairs, conservatory manufacturer and steel fabricators, have been dismissed as “haphazard” and “unacceptable.”

Bradford Council’s planning officers refused the application, by Bradford-based Denholme Storage, last week.

The applicants wanted to redevelop the industrial site into one that would allow change of use to allow shops, business and storage and distribution.

But the planning officers described this as “wholly unacceptable development in this unsustainable green belt location.”

They said the plans did not provide an adequate assessment of traffic generation or parking and would be an “intensification” of uses that would disturb nearby residents.

Steve Nunn, chairman of Denholme Parish Council’s planning committee, said the site was important to the village’s future, but agreed there were too many problems with the latest plans.

He said: “We try and support any application that brings development to that site. It needs to be brought back into use. The problem was a lack of clarity of what they were trying to put in there.

“Things seemed to be disproportionate to the site, a bit of a haphazard approach to development.

“The impact on the village’s traffic would have been too great. There would have been a lot of traffic coming and going. It is on the outskirts of the village, but still on the main road.

“The problem is, there are very few job opportunities in Denholme, so small units would be welcomed. A cafe there would be ideal, but the concern was the access was not big enough for large wagons.”

Despite their concerns over the latest plans, he said the parish council was eager to keep employment on the site.

“We would welcome any business opportunities that came to the village, because apart from the Co-Op there isn’t much at the moment,” said Coun Nunn. “Anything that brings jobs is welcomed. We will support development that puts the site to good use. All the other old mills are gone, so this is ripe for conversion.”

SR Design, the agents behind the application, declined to comment on Bradford Council’s refusal.

Comments(24)

justjustice says...
9:39am Sun 20 Jan 13

Well that's capitalism for you; it relies on an ever-growing demand which relies on an every-growing population. But then you need to house that population.

If people want to continue with capitalism, the only green people will be seeing is synthetic oxygen generators. Green belts will be non-existent not only in the UK but the world.

thatsnotmyname says...
10:20am Sun 20 Jan 13

Lets hope they got back to the drawing board and resubmit more attractive and realistic plans.

Albion. says...
10:58am Sun 20 Jan 13

thatsnotmyname wrote:
Lets hope they got back to the drawing board and resubmit more attractive and realistic plans.
I would think that is definite.

gwgwgw says...
12:41pm Sun 20 Jan 13

itsn been industrial land for ages, whats the problem,will it disturbe local councillors??

Outraged English Subject says...
12:47pm Sun 20 Jan 13

And not forgetting the big, fat, bulging, under the table brown envelope this time!

Joedavid says...
12:52pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Does all planning in Bradford country areas get objection or refusal.

Albion. says...
12:58pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Joedavid wrote:
Does all planning in Bradford country areas get objection or refusal.
Only until the acceptable inducement has been produced.

webess says...
1:26pm Sun 20 Jan 13

justjustice wrote:
Well that's capitalism for you; it relies on an ever-growing demand which relies on an every-growing population. But then you need to house that population.

If people want to continue with capitalism, the only green people will be seeing is synthetic oxygen generators. Green belts will be non-existent not only in the UK but the world.
Do tell us - what have you been smoking?

SteveW56 says...
1:31pm Sun 20 Jan 13

That's about right for Bradford, refuse something that creates jobs and renewal for an unused site... just like the city centre alternative use applications that are refused as they want to keep the shops prime retail... joke!

flogem says...
1:38pm Sun 20 Jan 13

justjustice wrote:
Well that's capitalism for you; it relies on an ever-growing demand which relies on an every-growing population. But then you need to house that population. If people want to continue with capitalism, the only green people will be seeing is synthetic oxygen generators. Green belts will be non-existent not only in the UK but the world.
Whats all that got to do with trying to bring business and much needed jobs to the area.

thatsnotmyname says...
7:29pm Sun 20 Jan 13

SteveW56 wrote:
That's about right for Bradford, refuse something that creates jobs and renewal for an unused site... just like the city centre alternative use applications that are refused as they want to keep the shops prime retail... joke!
Have you read the proposal? Do you live near there...or do you in fact have any knowledge about planning and the effects of a badly thought out development?

Not so simple says...
7:47pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Typical not in my back yard refusal.

They won't have cared if it wasn't in denholme.

flogem says...
8:10pm Sun 20 Jan 13

thatsnotmyname wrote:
SteveW56 wrote: That's about right for Bradford, refuse something that creates jobs and renewal for an unused site... just like the city centre alternative use applications that are refused as they want to keep the shops prime retail... joke!
Have you read the proposal? Do you live near there...or do you in fact have any knowledge about planning and the effects of a badly thought out development?
Could ask you the same question.

10steve says...
8:57pm Sun 20 Jan 13

They could run a !! Sunday Market !! for a couple of years without planning.

Mike Strutter says...
9:03pm Sun 20 Jan 13

Denholme is an absolute **** hole , green belt? Don't make me laugh

Not so simple says...
12:54am Mon 21 Jan 13

Mike Strutter wrote:
Denholme is an absolute **** hole , green belt? Don't make me laugh
Lol

6teddies says...
1:18am Mon 21 Jan 13

gwgwgw wrote:
itsn been industrial land for ages, whats the problem,will it disturbe local councillors??
LOL i like that and its proberly true!!

6teddies says...
1:21am Mon 21 Jan 13

That's the Bradford council for you again going backwards as usual no idea what they are doing i know that area and done right it would be a great area for many businesses and plenty of jobs just what Denholme needs really

farage says...
1:57am Mon 21 Jan 13

Go and see George Galloway he will sort it out Bradford West is booming now since he got into power

flogem says...
11:47am Mon 21 Jan 13

Mike Strutter wrote:
Denholme is an absolute **** hole , green belt? Don't make me laugh
You obviously know what a ****hole's like as you probably live in one.

Bone_idle18 says...
12:41pm Mon 21 Jan 13

First thing they need to set up on the new site is a factory manufacturing 6 finger gloves for the local Denholm residents :)

scottie dog says...
1:44pm Mon 21 Jan 13

The council are right to refuse planning permission on an ill thought out scheme, the applicant should provide information on how safe access & egress is to be provided on this site, as this will bring far more traffic to the site than Whittaker's factory did,,it's not a case of refusal for refusals sake but I see it as seeking assurances that the scheme will operate safely.

modman61 says...
2:12pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Typical Bradford Council being negative as per usual. A prime example for creating jobs only to be knocked back.

tester12 says...
8:47pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Where are the site plans that were rejected?

Tim
http://www.buyaplan.
co.uk

click2find

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