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Calderdale planning matters

Cifton, Brighouse - green belt land, proposed strategic extension

View from Thornhills Lane, Clifton - proposed strategic site CPRE West Yorkshire

The Calderdale district’s economic focus is Halifax and its associated industrial heritage, but in some ways it is the most rural of West Yorkshire’s districts, as most of its population is concentrated in the south-eastern quadrant of Halifax, Brighouse and Elland.

It is in this area where the majority of proposed new development is located, with the draft Local Plan proposing two ‘Garden Suburbs’ between Brighouse and the M62. CPRE is deeply concerned that these new settlements will be far too car-dependent and will effectively join Brighouse up to neighbouring Huddersfield.

To the east and northeast of Halifax is the narrow and very hilly wedge of landscape separating it from Bradford. This landscape Shibden Hall, the villages of Northowram and Shelf and Queensbury (in Bradford District) and then curves northwards to Ogden Water – a reservoir and country park and up onto Ovenden Moor, where there is a large wind farm. These features highlight how hard this landscape has worked and continues to work for the adjacent urban populations.

To the west of Halifax is a world of tongue-tickling names – Mytholmroyd, Todmorden, Mankinholes, Hebden Bridge – where the compact towns and villages seem to have been carved directly out of the deeply contoured rock. The landscape is heavy and stunning, but the settlements have suffered significant flooding recently and remain vulnerable. Hebden Bridge and Todmorden are also important cultural centres, with the latter being the birthplace of the Incredible Edible movement.

Go to the Local Plan Links

Calderdale local plan timeline

September 2023

High Court gives green light to Judicial Review of Calderdale Local Plan.

August 2023

On Friday, 25 August 2023, Calderdale Council launched their consultation on the Thornhills and Woodhouse Garden Communities Masterplans and Design Codes.

April 2023
The Clifton Neighbourhood Forum launched a funding appeal and legal challenge (to overturn the decision to adopt the Calderdale Local Plan) with support from other Calderdale community groups. Papers were filed at the High Court on 28 April and served on Calderdale Council and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 2 May (within the statutory timeframe for a legal challenge).

March 2023
Calderdale’s cabinet and the full council adopted the Local Plan.

January 2023
Calderdale Council received the Inspector’s Final Report↗ on 26 January.

November 2022
Comments on the main modification consultation can be viewed at Calderdale’s consultation portal↗.

October 2022
The main modification consultation was extended until Friday, 21 October, following the disclosure of new evidence.

July 2022
The local plan main modification consultation ran from 12 August to 7 October.

March 2022
Following the conclusion of the stage four hearings, the Planning Inspector wrote to Calderdale Council, setting out the steps to confirm the main modifications consultation.