Chippings News – November 2024

The prospect of 10 new homes at low rents for families in the Scholes area of the Holme Valley, took a step forward last week week when Kirklees Council published the planning decision on its website on Friday 11th October 2024. Full planning approval has been issued for these energy-efficient homes exclusively for local households priced out of the housing market.  The homes will be built on the ex-quarry, Chippings site on Chapelgate in Scholes.

Connect Housing will build and manage the affordable housing.  Following the long delays in finalising the legal documentation for planning consent, it is likely that work will now start on the building works in early 2025.  Connect are making progress in engaging contractors and are now able to start the working of clearing the planning conditions, as part of this next stage of development, where 10 affordable to rent, low-energy homes will be erected by Connect Housing and Ecoholmes, in association with the Holme Valley Land Charity.  You can now find the latest information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the site on this weblink – Connect Housing – The Chippings Development

This project is a first for Kirklees and the Holme Valley community, following fomal planning consent being granted, for 10 affordable, low-energy homes on the Chippings old stone quarry site in Scholes. These new homes will be: built to high standards of energy efficiency ensuring lower fuel bills; made available at reduced rents with secure tenancies; and let to people with a local connection. You can take a look at the site plans and house floorplans using the links below.

With a housing waiting list of 20,000 and private rent levels rocketing, this marks a small but important step in providing extra affordable rented housing in Kirklees. Working closely with the Holme Valley Land Charity (whose land it is) and Connect Housing, EcoHolmes have designed this small housing community using ideas gathered through consultation across the Holme Valley.

Our Chippings scheme proposals have generated much interest and speculation on social media. To respond to these and clarify some of the concerns raised we hope our responses to the following frequently asked questions or FAQs will help.

Housing tenancies:

Local connection will need to be evidenced by applicants for the housing tenancies and this will be a pre-filter to identify potential tenants. The detailed lettings process will be managed by Connect Housing who will operate the scheme. It will be consistent with the requirements of the Planning Consent, as set out in the Section 106 Agreement.   As we get nearer to the completion of the homes, in 2025, EcoHolmes and its Housing Association partner, Connect Housing,  will advertise extensively in the area for potential applicants.

Community engagement:

EcoHolmes have been engaging with local community to inform our proposals since 2020. The scheme details as presented on display boards at our March 2022 consultation event are show below: