HOUSES are to be demolished in Gomersal to help create 21 new homes.

The modest estate will be built on 1.8 acres of fields close to Gomersal Primary School. Existing properties at number 7 and 11 Church Lane will be pulled down.

There will be 12 semi-detached and nine detached homes on the site – down from 25 as originally envisaged. A fifth are designated as affordable housing.

The outline scheme, which was approved at a meeting of Kirklees Council’s Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-Committee, includes contributions to education (£42,552), open space (£28,576), and sustainable transport (£12,787).

The plan was given the green light despite concerns from some committee members that too many homes were being squeezed onto the site.

  • At Hunsworth, a previous decision to grant permission for green belt land to be used as a parking area for Arriva buses was reinforced.

However, there was agreement that a condition should remain in place that if new bus company Two Way Holdings was to leave the site at Whitehall Road West the land would revert to green belt.

The committee also decided the following:

  • REFUSED: Demolition of a former dairy/snooker centre/storage and erection of nine light industrial units on land adjacent to 60, Northgate, Cleckheaton.
  • REFUSED: Demolition of existing buildings, erection of five dwellings, formation of access and associated works land at Old White Lee Colliery, Leeds Road, Heckmondwike.
  • REFUSED: Erection of raised decking with balustrade, new door opening and three giant umbrellas to rear (Listed Building within a Conservation Area) of Smiths Arms, 1 Town Gate, Highburton, Huddersfield. (Plus Listed Building Consent)
  • DEFERRED: Erection of single- and two-storey extensions and formation of vehicular access at 40 Beckett Crescent, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.