PLANS have been proposed for more than 200 houses to be built on a patch of scrubland in the area.

The plans, created by Strata Homes and Johnson Mowat Planning & Development Consultants, are for 203 houses on land in Westgate, Cleckheaton, between Robert Street and Quarry Road.

Details of the proposals have been sent to local residents to garner their opinion before a full planning application is submitted to Kirklees Council.

Strata Homes has said the development would provide “much needed housing” in a “sustainable location within a short walk to public transport and a wide range of local facilities”.

The 6.446 hectare site is currently a scrubland, and the plans propose to create 203 homes, 30 per cent of which will be affordable housing, plus landscaping on the site and the provision of a “green corridor” at the centre of the site and an “extensive public open space” at the south of the site.

Strata Homes said: “The proposal is situated in a sustainable location within a short walk to public transport and a wide range of local facilities.

“The sustainability of the location and principle of development on the site has already been established through the consultation process and subsequent examination of the Kirklees Local Plan leading to the site’s allocation.”

Situated to the west of the proposed entrance to the new estate is a takeaway restaurant Le’s Sweet BBQ, which would not be affected by the development.

To the east of the proposed entrance is a small industrial site which is home to manufacturing company Foxton Dies Ltd, a hand car wash and tyre shop, and a butchers. These businesses will all also be unaffected by the proposed plans.

Some local residents have expressed concern about the plans, while others welcomed the potential development of the site.

Against the plans was Francesca Lauren, who said: “Why can’t they make a community space instead?

“Build a skate park for teenagers or a community centre so kids are not roaming the streets and stealing bikes.”

Ian Logan added: “Bradford Road/Rawfolds is a bottleneck now so traffic from Westgate in numbers will cause havoc.”

Karen Cogan raised concerns around local facilities, saying: “I probably wouldn’t have an issue with the houses if they made the building companies input into the local infrastructure, like doctors, schools and dentists.

Philip Haley said: “As a neighbouring resident I can tell only too well the massive increase there will be in traffic; building site first and then the constant housing traffic.”

He also expressed worries about the strain the development may have on school places and the local health services.

Supporting the plans, Andrew Riley said: “Should have built there before most other places around Cleckheaton, it’s a brownfield site.”

Barbara Frear-Binns said she was worried that some homes may be affected by flooding from the Blacup Beck at the bottom of the site, but said she was glad to see development on a brownfield site as opposed to green fields.

Following this local consultation period, the plans will be submitted to Kirklees Council.