Calderdale Housing Campaign

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CROW NEST, HEBDEN BRIDGE
(application 05/00699)

Objection submitted on behalf of Calderdale Friends of the Earth on the grounds that the scheme is contrary to:

- Policy H4 in that it creates unacceptable amenity and traffic problems. Specifically in relation to traffic, that the access to the local highway network (A646) for 90+ vehicles is completely inadequate, and that whilst the developer might argue that access will be via Palace House Road, the more likely route of access (for travel in the direction of Halifax and the motorway) will be via Mayroyd Lane, a single carriageway unadopted road which has already reached its limits because of the recent development of the former Mayroyd mill combining with previous traffic.

- Policy N105 Greenbelt in that the development will be visually detrimental by reason of its siting, materials and design to the immediately adjacent Green Belt (and please note also that the development site intrudes into the Green Belt itself with the provision of a 'woodland seating area'). This specifically relates to the scale of the development; the three blocks are 21 metres high, with the two largest blocks each being 52 m long; the total length of the developed site including parking areas is 188 metres. This scale of development would be inappropriate at any location in Hebden Bridge, and is therefore even more so at a location directly adjacent to the Green Belt. It constitutes an urbanisation of this location. Both the modern design and materials of the development are also unsuited to this location (and see the next objection).

- Policy N37 on the grounds that it will not preserve the character of the Hebden Bridge Conservation Area, which is visible from the application site

- PPG3 paragraph 58 in relation to proposed density. PPG3 recommends seeking densities in excess of 50 dwellings per hectare 'around major nodes along good quality public transport corridors' - the development site being located adjacent to Hebden Bridge railway station. However, the density of this development is 157 dwellings per hectare, which constitutes an unacceptable over-intensification of the site.

- Policy GH2 (as extended by adopted RSS) because Calderdale has already made provision for its regional housing supply target (indeed by 2005 has already met the target through to 2016) - consequently there is no overall housing need to be met. 

Details of this application 

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