COUNCILLORS have given the go-ahead to a hybrid planning application which will allow 75 new homes to be built at a former Brighouse quarry.

Calderdale Council Planning Committee members seemed to be shaping up to refuse Hard York Ltd’s application for quarry recovery and outline consent for the homes at Pond Quarry, Lightcliffe Road, Brighouse.

But concerns about being able to defend a refusal against officers’ recommendations meant eventually a slim majority agreed to be mindful to permit the application, subject to planning conditions and a legal agreement covering some affordable housing, highway, open space and biodiversity matters.

Planning officers said the Pond Quarry application was only addressing access issues at this stage with a full application to follow where the homes were concerned.

Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) was concerned about the impact on biodiversity, the distress which could be caused to residents through dust and noise resulting from readying the site, work which was estimated to take two to three years, and the impact on rural roads around the area and junctions at Brighouse and Hipperholme.

“Two to three years is a heck of a long time, what will the dust and noise impact be on residents? I think it will be absolutely ginormous,” he said.

Operators of quarry seek extra decade to work and restore site

Biodiversity officer Hugh Firman said the biodiversity was not as rich as you would imagine and highways officer Andrew Dmoch said it would be a struggle to sustain an objection to the plans on a highways basis as it would be a temporary impact.

Sarah Dimmock speaking for around 150 objectors, challenged the description of “temporary” and voiced ecological, loss of green space and air quality issues.

Coun Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) as ward councillor urged the committee to refuse permission and seek more information.

The viability of the plan had to be questioned, the adverse impact of infilling the quarry examined more closely in terms of noise and traffic volume and the hours of working looked at.

He believed the access was inadequate and pointed out this was one of the main walking routes to school for several schools – Coun Kirton said there were three primary and two secondary schools where pupils used it as a route.

However an agent for the applicants said measures were in place to address issues and there were benefits to Calderdale including reusing a “brownfield” site and addressing its shortfall in supplying new homes.