A SMALL business park in Hipperholme is to be redeveloped after plans for 14 homes and five commercial units have been passed.

The scheme for the LRP Business Park on Halifax Road involved demolishing existing buildings on the site and building homes to the back and right of the site, with units and flats above at the front of the irregular shaped plot.

The site is around 0.2 hectares and currently consists of existing commercial units, and informal parking area. To the north and west of the site are homes and to the east are commercial premises.

Developer RS Investments Yorkshire applied to Calderdale Council for the scheme, which has now been approved by officers.

Initial plans were for 17 homes and five commerical units, but the number of homes has since been reduced.

In a report, planning officers state: "The proposed site layout includes a number of separate blocks, three of the blocks are arranged with commercial uses to the ground floor and residential above. The other three blocks are entirely residential."

It adds that two of the residential only blocks are over three floor and the remaining block is over two floors.

Concerns were raised about the impact on a nearby Grade II listed building at Brook Green, and following discussions the developer has agreed to use natural stone and slate given the proximity to the listed homes.

In a design and access statement accompanying the application it states that there is a mix of designs and storeys: "Dormers and rooflights are incorporated into all units to maximise the level of accommodation that can be provided."

It also adds that the access onto Halifax Road will be improved and widened to accommodate the development.

Meanwhile a controversial scheme on fields in Northowram has been refused after 84 letters of objection were received by the Council.

The plans by Charles Church Developments were initially to build 22 homes, but has since been reduced to 12 houses in an effort to address many of the concerns.

This involved moving the development further from the boundary with the Heywood Chapel graveyard.

Despite the reduction, the plans for the land north of Heywood United Reformed Church, Heywood Close, was not considered to be acceptable due to general design criteria, the effect on a nearby listed building and the conservation area.

Objections centred on the negative impact on the quality of life for existing residents and the unsuitability of Upper Lane and Tetley Lane for the access to any development.