A dance school building in Gomersal may be turned into flats

Applicant Charlotte McCue wants to extend and convert the building at Moor Lane, Gomersal, which has been home to The Dancing House for a number of years.

The lease has recently come to an end and negotiations for a new one have so far not reached an agreement.

In a design and access statement accompanying the plan, it states that as a result the applicant has decided to press forward with the planning application.

The Dancing House building in Gomersal (Image: Google Street View)

“In the meantime, The Dancing House continues to operate out of the building through a short term agreement and the building owner has and continues to proactively source alternative accommodation for them,” it adds.

The original idea to redevelop the site involved six one-bed flats and four two-bed flats, but Council planners had concerns over the size of the extension and the impact it had on the garden at the front of the building.

Public consultation was then carried out based on an amended scheme featuring ten one-bed flats.

Issues raised at this stage included concerns over parking, potential noise and privacy issues, as well as disruption during construction.

The design and access statement adds in response that the current use of the building causes “significant parking issues along Moor Lane” which will no longer be the case if converted. The proposals also include 12 on-site parking spaces for residents and visitors.

The report adds that the plans comply with appropriate distances on each aspect, and a planning condition will mean a construction management plan must be approved before work can begin.

How the converted building could look (Image: Den Architecture)

In a report to Kirklees Council’s Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee, which will determine the plans, states: “

Among the 250 objections to the scheme, many raised concerns about the loss of the dance school which is a “valuable asset to the village”.

Others raised concerns about the increase in traffic on Moor Lane, insufficient parking and that the development would harm the visual amenity of the historic building.

There were concerns about whether the apartments reflected local need.

In contrast supporting comments said the new flats would result in much less traffic than the dance school, and it would address a shortage in one-bedroom flats in the area.

Planning officers recommended the plans be approved at the meeting which takes place on June 22, at 1pm in Dewsbury Town Hall.