‘We do not want any building’

Up to 1,800 homes could be built on green belt land on the border between Batley and Dewsbury – more than triple the number first thought.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Jan 2013, 12:00 BST

Campaigners have fought a long battle with Kirklees Council over its plans to earmark land in Chidswell, off Leeds Road, for 500 houses and 35 hectares of business and industrial development.

They say such development would decimate the area.

But a report for land owners the Church Commissioners, seen by the News, shows that a further 1,200 homes could be built there.

After a meeting between last week, Chidswell Action Group accused them of trying to wring as much profit as possible from the site.

Action group chairman Rod Lilley said: “Whether it’s a little or a lot, we do not want any building whatsoever.

“We are going to fight this to the bitter end.”

The final decision will be made by a planning inspector but a council spokeswoman said 1,800 homes would be ‘more housing than is justifiable’ on the site.