THE DEVELOPER behind a controversial plan for 47 homes on grazing land in Cleckheaton should learn this week whether its latest scheme is acceptable.

Redrow Homes first gained outline approval for a development on land off Ashbourne Drive after a public inquiry in 2013.

All matters other than partial means of access to the site, which is 2.4 hectares and currently used as grazing land, are to be determined in the latest application.

An earlier version of the plans was recommended for approval at a committee in June, but due to a number of concerns, planners asked the developer to look again at issues including amending the layout to avoid the housing estate roads crossing a farm track on the site, which provides access to Lower Blacup Farm and is also a public footpath; altering the layout to provide sufficient parking or storage to compensate for the below-standard garage space; road gradients to be recommended standards; sufficient bin storage and collection points to be provided; retaining walls to be faced in materials to match; and homes to be faced in brick to match those nearby.

In a report to Thursday’s Kirklees Council Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee, planners state that the majority of the issues have been addressed, but the applicant “declined to segregate the farm track / public right of way from the proposed road layout”.

Despite this the plans have been recommended for approval again.

Local councillor Kath Pinnock had asked that the matter be determined by a panel “on the grounds of the strength of the comments made by statutory consultees and continuing concerns from local residents”.

Concerns from Councillor Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) and residents centre on the farm track which crosses the site.

She states in her objections: “There will be conflict between farm traffic and residential traffic and pedestrians where the estate road crosses the farm track.

“The plans should be amended to prevent access over the farm track or make the crossing point single track with road safety measures to reduce traffic speed.”

After the changes, she added: “The applicant appears to have taken no action to mediate conflict of users of the farm track to the detriment of road safety.”

Highways officers had said that given that users of the track will have to give way to vehicles on the residential road where the two cross, speeds will be low.

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Planners originally had concerns over the 54 homes that were applied for in 2012, with issues such as the proximity to a listed building and a working farm, as well as that the land was designated as provisional open land in the unitary development plan.

But the planning inspector disagreed and gave approval following a public inquiry, although a condition that nine homes will be provided as affordable housing was attached.

A subsequent application by Redrow to remove that condition is still undetermined, and Council planners believe five units are viable on the site.