Gilder Hall decision could be a step closer

Members of the Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee will visit the site at Greenside Road on Thursday before deciding whether to refer the plans to Kirklees Council’s Planning and Highways Committee.

Mirfield Community Trust have applied for outline permission for a community centre with car park and public spaces on the site - which has a 100 year history of being used for community needs.

The Trust and the Gilder Hall Youth Foundation currently have a temporary home in Water Royd Lane, used by 450 people each week.

Plans for the site go back to 2004, and the current application was originally submitted in November 2010 when it included two junior football pitches, an outdoor amphitheatre and children’s playground.

But these have been omitted following objections from Sport England and planning officers, a report to the committee said.

Three letters of objection have been received, citing concerns including the loss of open space and the ‘mundane’ design of the building.

The report recommends councillors refer the application to the higher planning committee with a recommendation of approval, but only under a number of conditions.

These include the full plans for the site be being submitted within three years and that drainage issues are addressed.

l See next week’s Reporter for the committee’s decision.