Next step for Strata Homes plan for 180 houses on lane in Cleckheaton

The scheme, from Strata Homes, is for a 6.47 hectare site off Westgate in the town, that is currently home to one firm and has several defunct units on it too.

Other units were demolished more than a decade ago and one section of the site has most recently been used as a car park.

Strata’s plans first emerged in 2020 and were for 203 homes initially. This has now reduced to 180 for the land, which is allocated for a mixed-use development in the Local Plan.

The applicant had argued that the development would not be viable if it had to comply in full with the Council’s planning obligations policy.

Two of the house types planned for Westgate in Cleckheaton (Image: Strata Homes)

But after a feasibility study Council planners negotiated a contribution of nine first homes and three affordable homes, as well as a total of just over £300,000 in planning obligations.

This includes £199,916 towards off-site measures to achieve biodiversity net gain; £59,770.28 as an off-site contribution to create open space; and £33,000 towards bus stop improvements.

Kirklees Council planners are recommending the plans be approved when the matter goes before the strategic planning committee on April 6.

In a report to the committee it states: “The proposal seeks full planning permission for the erection of 180 dwellings. This would consist of: 2-bed: 52 (28%); 3-bed: 86 (48%); 4-bed: 42 (23%).
“There would be five house types. Units would be a mix of detached, semidetached, and terraced. Most unit types would be two storeys, with the exemption of ‘Bungalow’ housetype (one storey) and ‘AH5’ housetype (2.5 storeys, habitable rooms in roofspace).

The site at Westgate in Cleckheaton (Image: Strata Homes)

“Facing materials are proposed as a mix of stone, red brick, and buff brick. Roofing materials are proposed as grey concrete tiles and red concrete tiles.

“The site’s access is to be formed over / incorporate the (unadopted) Stone Street. From this, a new estate road would extend through the site, before branching into a wide loop with several small off-shooting roads / private shared drives.

“The 2-bed and 3-bed units would have two off-road parking spaces per unit, with the 4-bed units have three. There would be 29 dedicated visitor parking bays.

There have been a small number of public comments to the Council over the scheme – seven in total.

Concerns include that local schools and GP cannot cope with the additional demand and that local roads and drainage infrastructure is inadequate to accommodate any more homes.