Concern over homes plan for pub site

Christopher Bradbury has applied for outline planning permission to build the three-bedroom houses on land in Calder Road, currently occupied by nine studio apartments rented out as social housing.

But Mayor of Mirfield Vivien Lees-Hamilton said the site, home to the former Bridge Hotel pub, was not suitable for the development.

She said: “This is yet another historic building from Mirfield that could be demolished. There is some very interesting stone carving around the facades. They are tearing down an iconic building to put in eight rabbit hutches.”

The site was also home to a play area several years ago which has since been removed.

Coun Lees-Hamilton said: “Just where are these children going to play?”

She added that the development would not have sufficient parking space and would add to traffic problems in the area.

“I know we need affordable housing but we also need decent housing,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. This will bring us back to the Victorian times.”

Agent Mark Bradbury of Bradbury Consulting stressed that the planning application was only in the outline stage. “We are just trying to establish if we can locate eight properties on that site. There are no firm plans and we are not saying this is the exact number of how they will be positioned. Obviously we will take on board comments from the local community and councillors.”

Mr Bradbury said any development would be sympathetic to the surrounding area, adding that the current one-bedroom apartments were not in-keeping with the area.

“There is already a flood of apartments in the area. Our theory is to provide residential housing affordable to the local community which we understand there is a demand for.”

The issue will be discussed at Mirfield Town Council on Tuesday. Members of the public have until September 23 to comment on the proposals.