CONTROVERSIAL plans for almost 300 homes in Cleckheaton have encountered a fresh stumbling block after the developer applied to change the design of every house on the site.

Harron Homes was granted planning permission in January for 291 houses to be built on a 29-acre farmland site at Merchant Fields.

Within days of a subsequent legal agreement being signed off in June, the developer then submitted a request to alter one of the conditions attached to the approval, by substituting house types for each of the 291 plots.

But Kirklees Council planners have now knocked back the application amid concerns that it is materially different to the scheme that was approved earlier this year.

The changes would have also resulted in more of the larger four-bedroom homes, up from 150 to 171 and a similar reduction in three-bedroom homes, down from 105 to 84.

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In its application Harron Homes states that it wants to make the changes to include its new house type range in the development.

It adds that the majority are direct replacements, for example, and Alderton is now a Mawsley, and a Birkwith is now a Tidmington.

Outside of this there are eight plots that would move to a different house type altogether.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The site at Merchant Fields in CleckheatonThe site at Merchant Fields in Cleckheaton

But a planning report states that in addition to the increase in large four-bedroom homes, some elevations are not the same, and footprint and plot dimensions would also be altered to accommodate the new house types.

It goes on to add: “The scale of change proposed is significant. The design of every one of the 291 dwellings would be changed.”

“The scale of change proposed by the applicant is certainly not considered to be ‘minor’. The proposed changes would result in a development that is materially and substantially different to the one which has been approved.”

It goes on to state: “Under the current application, the applicant seeks to undo some of the improvements to housing mix secured under the previous application. This would mean the development would no longer adequately address the needs of a broad range of people and their households.

“The significant increase in the number of 4-bedroom dwellings is of particular concern. The mix now proposed is considered unacceptable.”

A total of 15 objections were received to the changes, highlighting concerns over the new house types being larger, and an increase in the number of four-bedroom homes on the site.

There was also a concern about a lack of explanation as to why the house types needed to be changed.

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