MORE than 100 objections have poured in after plans to build up to 75 homes on the site of a former quarry in Brighouse were revealed.

The scheme, by landowner Hard York Ltd, is for the disused Pond Quarry at Lightcliffe Road.

A hybrid application was lodged with Calderdale Council at the end of June and involves engineering works to fill in the quarry lasting approximately three years as well as for outline planning for the housing development.

Since the application went live, there have been a total of 108 objections, as of yesterday lunchtime, with concerns focusing on the engineering works to level the site, disruption to nearby residents, traffic issues and wildlife such as badgers and bats losing their habitat.

One resident stated: "It is an idea which is not sustainable due to the residential housing around and the lack of investment and infrastructure in the Brighouse and Rastrick area. It is obtrusive to our privacy and brings no benefit to the local community.

"The amount of work needed to fill in the quarry is just not feasible for an already densely populated area. It is not safe and is a danger to all the existing school routes, it is not environmentally friendly and would undoubtedly impact every person who lives within a half mile radius."

Another added: "This is a quiet, residential area, with a small valued green area in the centre."

"Allowing this application will severely affect the lives of local residents and those further afield for the next 3.5 years, before houses can be even considered. This is totally unacceptable."

Councillor Scott Benton (Con, Brighouse) is urging the Council to listen to the concerns of residents as he believes the site is not suitable for development.

“The overwhelmingly majority of the residents  in the area object to the development taking place. It will take years of disruption and thousands of lorry loads of material to fill the quarry.

“This will cause immense disruption and inconvenience for local residents as it will create increased traffic, noise and additional dirt and dust.

“There are also concerns about the different wildlife living in the quarry – particularly badgers and bats -  and the impact on their habitat if these plans go ahead.”

The site is bounded by Lightcliffe Road to the east and existing homes to the other sides.

The land is currently allocated for housing in the unitary development plan and is also a proposed housing site in the draft Local Plan.

In a design and access statement accompanying the plans, it states that the site has not been used as a quarry for approximately 50 years. It is overgrown with foliage and there are a number of derelict buildings on the land.

It adds that there would be one point of access from Granny Hall Lane leading to traditional estate roads and drives to each plot.

A reserved matters application would be required to create the housing development, which would involve detached and semi-detached two and two and a half storey homes, along with some three storey houses and small terrace blocks.

An existing tree buffer to the north of the site would be kept.

The report on infilling the site outlines that more than 100,000 cubic metres of material would need to be delivered to the site in order to level it out ready for development.

Based on ten deliveries to the site per day, using 20 tonnes tipper trucks, the infill operation would take approximately three years to complete. These deliveries would be outside of peak hours, five days a week.

Hard York said it sent out 8,500 leaflets to local residents as part of public consultation over their plans, but only a small number of people responded with feedback, as 15 out of 25 were not in support of the proposals.

Although some nearby residents have reported not receiving the consultation leaflet.

A decision is expected to be made by Calderdale Council planners towards the end of September.