As well as a detailed and official planning objection, it’s a good idea to enlist (beg for?) the help of friends and family to add weight to our arguments. Though not always a deciding factor the number and quality of individual objections will add weight – so every little helps.

It’s better if the objections are worded personally, but here’s an example of a request to send out to your circle of friends explaining what the situation is, etc.

Hi (Friend)

As you know we’re in a bit of a pickle in our village – if you could help us that’d really be appreciated… (intro tailored to suit friend!!!!)
You may be aware that Kirklees planning is in a bit of a state at the moment. According to their figures they have a shortfall of available housing land ‘borough wide’ stating that they only have 2.45 years worth of the required 5 years.

(According to Cllr Charles Greaves parts of the Holme Valley areas has 7+ years availability, but this does not factor in the way the requirements are applied to the wider Kirklees area.)

The Kirklees Local Plan that should have been adopted by now identified certain green field land as not to be developed until at least 2031. One of these tracts is in our small village of Hade Edge (Currently Hade Edge has apporximately 175 houses). The first phase, if approved, will increase the size of the village by 66 houses, with a doubling of the village if the whole plot is developed.

Because of the alleged ‘shortfall’ these pieces of land are being targeted by opportunistic profiteering national developers with no stake in the countryside or the community, aiming to maximise the ‘roof count’ despite the impact on our village. We contest that the development would not be sustainable on a number of levels – a key requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework.

I am asking you to add your opposition to the development by commenting on the Kirklees website or writing a letter. We have put together some pointers on what we think are the best things to mention in an objection to this ‘outline application’ here.

You can see the application and object by commenting online on the Kirklees website here. Separate objections per person are allowed – so please ask others that know and love Hade Edge to comment too!

Thanks in advance for your support.

As part of putting the best fight possible we have taken advice from a lot of experienced parties, and given that the application is outline only, we have listed below a few key points that we understand will carry the most weight in your objections.

Updated 15/8/2016 14:00

At this stage, opposing any things such as the finishes or the detail of the plans is irrelevant; though you may want to add any points that impact you personally as you see fit, e.g School places, etc etc.

We feel as a group that an ideal opposition letter/submission should contain the following points (expressed in your own words).

• The development would have a substantial negative impact on the character and amenity of the village (this is the “swamping” issue for our small village and the impact would be greater if the whole of the safeguarded site is developed).
•  The site is in an unsustainable location in transport terms (i.e. there are very few facilities within an acceptable walking distance and poor public transport). This effectively means that every home will need at least one car – which flies in the face of any sort of goals for reducing transport related congestion, delays and C02. Quite apart from being about as far as possible from A&E, etc as it could be.
• The services in the village (drainage etc) will not cope with this development (the applicant has not explained how surface water drainage for example will be dealt with).
• There is a potential highway safety issue from increased traffic turning right into the village at the top of Dunford Road as forward visibility is poor (this would be made worse if the whole of the safeguarded land is developed).

In some of the supporting documents that the developer has submitted, developing the whole of the ‘safeguarded land’ is referred to – so it’s worth contesting the fact that the application doesn’t address the impacts of this happening.

Remember – Objections are per person so you can make more than one objection per household.

You don’t have to be a resident – so getting your friends and family to object in their own words is valid. Ask as many ask you can to object!

You can see the planning application and start an objection by clicking here.
The window for objections currently closes on Friday 7th September so time is of the essence.