A MASSIVE warehouse scheme at Mirfield has been green-lit by Kirklees Council despite concerns over unresolved planning breaches.
Work is underway on Moor Park 25 at a 15.4-acre site off the A62 Leeds Road, between Mirfield and Liversedge. One large industrial unit is already complete.
Now phase two will begin following approval of layout, landscaping, scale and appearance.
Five units of up to 59,000 sq ft will be built on the site.
Caddick Development, the company behind the scheme formerly known as Mirfield 25, says it will pump an estimated £12.5m into the local economy and create hundreds of new jobs.
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But there was much debate at the first virtual meeting of the council’s Strategic Planning Committee (June 3) over a catalogue of planning breaches.
They were highlighted by local councillor Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield), who said there had been problems with lights shining in motorists’ eyes, pollution running off site, no wheel washing facilities on site and working outside permitted hours.
He also highlighted an alleged burglary in which equipment worth half a million pounds had been stolen from a tenant already on site.
Those issues prompted two other Conservatives, Donald Firth and Donna Bellamy, to vote against the scheme.
Liberal Democrat Andrew Pinnock “reluctantly” abstained commenting that development “should not be done at any price”.
However it was carried by four votes from Labour members Carole Pattison, Mohan Sokhal, Cathy Scott and committee chair Steve Hall.
The council’s head of planning, Mathias Franklin, confirmed there had been planning breaches on the site but that the authority had taken action and was prepared to do so again.
But he cautioned against impeding development.
An agent for the applicant revealed one interested party had already pulled out due to delays meaning “local jobs have gone elsewhere”.
Myles Hartley, managing director of Caddick Developments, said the company was looking to progress the project right away.
He said: “There has been very strong interest in the site and we are very close to signing up two local businesses who want to expand, which will help with the economic recovery plans for the area.
“We needed the certainty that this permission provides.”
Speaking after the meeting Clr Bolt said he was “disappointed” that unresolved planning breaches had not been reported in the agenda presented to members of the committee.
“The majority [of the committee] seemed to think that passing the application would change that. I would ask why when so far they have failed to do so?
“Who is to enforce this when they have failed so far?”
Mirfield 25 has proved controversial since it was first mooted more than 20 years ago.
Huddersfield-based David Brown Gear Systems drew up plans to move to the site, but decided in 2013 to pull out and remain at its Park Works site in Lockwood.
Clr Bolt added: “I am cynical when developers say people are pressing to get on site.
“If that is the case why did they need the five-year rate-free period?
“And what happened to all those others pressing to come on site at each planning stage such as Fox’s Biscuits, a retirement village and David Brown’s?
“None ever materialised.
“Kirklees needs businesses but it also needs to represent its existing residents and the reputation of the council.”
