June 2013
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Council forced to withdraw its LDF By Sandie Marshall KIRKLEES Council is being forced back to the drawing board after its LDF framework for future housing and industrial development was thrown out at a national level because it contains too FEW new homes. The council must now re-submit to the national Planning Inspectorate with extra land for thousands more new homes identified – potentially threatening greenfield and green belt areas. Like all other authorities, Kirklees spent years putting together the controversial Local Development Framework, attempting to balance the need for new building against widespread local opposition to losing protected green space. The LDF was unofficially approved last November after Labour, the Lib Dems, Greens and independents agreed on a compromise deal which Conservatives opposed.
It could not be officially adopted, however, until ratified by the Secretary of State. Kirklees believed it had the balance right with areas identified for 22,400 new homes to be built over the coming 18 years – until the Planning Inspectorate told it to think again and increase this number by up to one third. It is not the only local authority to be placed in this position. Others, including Wigan and Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire have also been forced to withdraw their LDFs and re-submit with proposals for increased house building. The news will come as a blow to local campaign groups who have continually put pressure on Kirklees to lower the number of proposed new homes to be built. Robert Bamforth from Kirklees Community Action Network has called on Kirklees Council to use this as a chance
to re-think it LDF strategy. He told the Review: “Our view was that the housing targets in the LDF were already far too high and undeliverable; so we are obviously extremely concerned at the prospect that they will now be increased by another 25 to 33 per cent. “This will add significantly to the pressure for releasing more green field and green belt land for housing throughout Kirklees, including the Colne and Holme Valleys. “Surely now is the time for Kirklees to go back to the drawing board, review some of the fundamental aspects of the core strategy and place much greater emphasis on urban regeneration and brownfield development.” Mr Bamforth says his group will take time to read and understand the reasons behind the Planning Inspectorate’s decision before calling meetings with other campaign groups to discuss its full reaction.
A Brockholes marathon runner is lucky to be alive after suffering a double heart attack on the starting line of a race. Sean Doyle, 45, is recovering at home with wife Helen (pictured) after collapsing at the start of Parkrun in Huddersfield’s Greenhead Park. His life was saved by the quick action of doctors and nurses on hand at the event and the rapid response paramedics from nearby Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. For the full story turn to page 4.