Plans to link a huge new housing development have been axed

A planning developer has been granted permission to remove proposed plans for a connecting footpath from a major £60m homes scheme in Hipperholme.

In 2022 Calderdale planning councillors gave the greenlight to Crosslee Properties Ltd proposals to transform a former Crosslee tumble dryer factory site on Brighouse Road in Hipperholme – a village in West Yorkshire.

Plans included creating 104 new homes as well as a care home and 24-bungalow retirement village.

However, when the proposal was accepted, one planning condition included that the homes could not come into use before designs for a connecting footpath from the site to reach local facilities had been approved by Calderdale Council.

Although, things have since changed as councillors have now been informed the developer has been unable to secure a necessary agreement from Network Rail – the train company was reluctant to approve the footpath request as it would have cut through a rail bridge linking the new route to an existing public footpath.

After Network Rail rejected the plans, developers attempted to secure alternative land with a third party but this was also unsuccessful, the Council’s Planning Committee heard.

Highway officers commenting on the conflict said: ‘Whilst the link would have provided a more direct access to certain local facilities it would be difficult to argue that it was necessary to make the development acceptable in terms of national planning guidance.’

Despite officers not being in favour of the footpath, three letters of objection were sent to the council outlining the plan should not be removed. Objectors told councillors they felt their views were being overlooked.

Ward Councillor David Kirton said the path was necessary as alternative routes to access facilities are dimly lit, deeming them unsafe at particular times.

Councillors, while not happy, however felt the company had done everything it could to push for the footpath development and agreed the condition could be removed.

Image: Felix Kayser