COUNCILLORS have rejected proposals to turn a former school into a care home, voicing concerns about the size and scale of the proposed building.

Calderdale Council had received almost 140 letters of objection, and a community objection submitted on behalf of 23 residents, opposing Torsion Care Ltd’s proposals for the former Hipperholme Grammar Junior School at Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe, to demolish and then build the care home.

Objectors said the sheer amount of opposition included a GP surgery, a school, ward councillors and Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker, and their spokesperson raised questions over council policy interpretation and land ownership.

“This building will be overbearing and will dominate the surroundings,” he said.

Other concerns raised from residents were layout, flooding and drainage, and trees, which planning officers felt were all acceptable.

Councillor George Robinson (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said there was a groundswell of opinion among people about the issue.

Residents had been OK with a previous plan submitted for 14 homes but this was fundamentally different, particularly in terms of size and design.

“It’s a monstrosity,” he said. “Fundamentally the issue is the site is suitable for residential purposes but it should not be upgraded to this care home application.”

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A representative from Torision Care, the company which brought forward the planning application, said the construction of the care home would provide 55 new jobs, 40 of which would be full-time.

Changes to the plans had been made within reason and he asked the committee to follow planners’ recommendation to approve the proposals.

“Ultimately what is before you is a high quality proposal that will genuinely benefit Hipperholme and the residents being care for here,” he said.

Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) said the council had need of places where ageing citizens could be cared for and live together but he had concerns about the size of the building and wanted to hear more from other councillors.

Coun Faisal Shoukat (Lab, Park) said he had a material concern about the scale of the site.

“The design aspect doesn’t go far enough and it is a substantial three-storey building that will blight the street scene and have an impact on residents that themselves form a cul-de-sac around the site,” he said.

Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe), who had also raised concerns relating to traffic and parking, proposed the plans be refused and he was supported by Coun Stephen Baines (Con, Northowram and Shelf).

Officers advised on which grounds they believed they could or could not defend should the decision go to appeal and councillors voted to refuse the application because of the building’s design and impact and issues relating to parking.