Old pub building to be demolished after garage plans approved

Despite almost 100 objections to the plans for The Halfway House on Huddersfield Road, the outline scheme was approved by the planning panel today.

There were some alterations to the original plans, including the removal of a car wash – and planners recommended the opening hours be restricted.

Members of the panel also added a restriction to the conditions, banning the use of bodywork spray painting at the future business.

The meeting heard how the empty building had suffered from vandalism and flood damage after leadwork was removed from the roof and radiators were ripped off walls.

One objector whose garden overlooked the site told the panel that the location of the storage unit would cause privacy issues for her.

She added that noise from the business would also cause a disturbance, particularly when working from home.

“The pub has been standing for over a hundred years and many people believe it should be listed,” she said.

“There are already four garages in a close radius too.”

The Halfway House pub building in Wyke (Image: Newsquest)

A message read out to the meeting from the agent for the applicant, Mr Mehgran, said that they had worked with Council planners in a bid to provide an acceptable scheme including removing the car wash from the plans completely.

He also said that as the scheme was outline only at this stage, the siting of the building and storage could change when a full application is submitted in due course.

Officers outlined how they had requested a noise report to be submitted along with the plans after a significant number of objections had raised noise as an issue.

In a report to the meeting at City Hall, it states: “The Environmental Health Officer has confirmed that the noise report is acceptable and that if the consultant’s recommendations are followed, they would reduce the potential for a noise nuisance to occur.

“These include ‘a noise barrier along the southern and eastern boundaries, with a recommendation to keep the eastern workshop doors closed except for access/egress’. On this basis, it is not considered that noise or vibrations from the use will adversely affect surrounding residential dwellings.”

A revised drawing showing the potential layout for the new business includes a vehicle servicing and repair garage towards the West Croft side of the site and the storage unit nearer the homes to the south.

A number of car parking spaces are also shown dotted around the edges of the site.