THE former brigade control centre at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Birkenshaw is to be demolished shortly as a developer has been granted full permission to build 30 homes on the site.

Rouse Homes has bought the 3.68 acres of land from the fire service, after it was deemed surplus to requirements, and has confirmed that it expects to begin construction on the three and four-bed family homes as soon as possible.

The firm will first need to demolish a two-storey building which housed the brigade's control centre, handling emergency calls for 40 years until its move to Leeds in 2014.

In addition a number of houses that were converted into offices in the 1980s, but which have stood empty since 2013, will need to be demolished to make way for the development.

A spokesman for Rouse, said: "Planning was approved and we are just awaiting the decision notice, due imminently, before demolition works can commence.

"Subject to this, we are looking at releasing the first properties for sale around October time, with the first occupations anticipated to be during the summer 2019."

In a report by Kirklees Council planners to the Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee, which took place at the end of last week, it states that there had been one objection from a person living nearby on Bradford Road, about the proximity of one of the homes.

Local councillor Liz Smaje had also raised concerns about the density of the site as it looked "very full".

Planners went on to state that while the 30 homes would be “relatively closely spaced” discussions had taken place with Rouse regarding the scale of the dwellings and the distances between to “ensure the proposal would not appear cramped”.

“On balance the proposed density of the development would be acceptable and some minor revisions have been made to the layout to address the impact on protected trees, highway safety issues and flood-risk issues.”

Planners added that where a neighbour had concerns about the proximity of new homes to his house, there would be 31 metres between them and no openings on the second floor on that side, so they believe there would be “no undue overbearing impact”.

A new access road will be created off Bradford Road, and the homes are to be built in artificial stone with concrete slate grey tiles.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was granted outline planning permission on the land and last year announced the plot was up for sale with offers invited in the region of £2 million.

The service will retain its headquarters at neighbouring Oakroyd Hall, a listed building on the wider site, in addition to various offices and training facilities.