Green light given for legal challenge over grant of planning permission for 1,500-home development

Kirklees Council granted outline planning permission to two applications on 8 December 2024, paving the way for up to 1,354 dwellings to be built on one site and a further 181 dwellings on a second site.

A new primary school, a local centre and green space will also be built as part of the application.

The High Court granted permission last month to an application for judicial review lodged by the Chidswell Action Group.

The campaigners claim that the council approved the planning application "in the knowledge the required surveys were out-of-date by Professional Standards" and that reports requested by a Statutory Consultee had not been provided.

They also allege that the Biodiversity Net Gain figures provided were "flawed and biased".

In a statement on its crowdfunding page, the group said a planning barrister had identified breaches of the National Policy Planning Framework, the Kirklees Local Development Plan and The Environment Act 2021.

"We've also identified unaddressed material considerations and essential undisclosed information which is required before a planning decision can be made in accordance with the council's legal duties", the statement added.

The group said it wrote to Kirklees's strategic planning committee members and the council's planning department to highlight the barrister's findings and requested a deferral until all outstanding matters were addressed.

However, the planning committee went on to approve the application "despite the strong justification for deferral until outstanding information was provided", the group added. 

The group have raised £15,000 towards their goal of £20,000 for legal costs.

Kirklees Council declined to comment on the legal action.

Adam Carey