Chippings News – 2024
Progress continues towards the creation of 10 new energy efficient homes at an old quarry site in Scholes, Holmfirth. Full planning approval for the project was issued and published on the Kirklees website on Friday 11th October 2024.
Initial clearance work was undertaken earlier in the year. You can find the latest information and frequently asked questions about the development on this link – Connect Housing – The Chippings Development
Site clearance work included:
- Removing invasive shrubs.
- Removing some trees, in line with the Planning submission.
- Clearing vegetation on the quarry rock face.
- Clearing fly tipping.
Link to the site clearance notice and view a plan of the works here. A statement covering potential concerns can be found – on this link.
Interested in the details? Have a look through the site layout and plans on this page, and for regular updates on Chippings and other projects follow our Facebook page.
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. Chippings proposals have generated much interest and you can find answers to common questions below along with the planning application and responses.
Site investigations:
Surveys, studies and site investigations have been completed on the topography, geology, ecology, trees and landscaping, highways, utilities, flooding and drainage aspects of the site. This information has been used to inform the design and also in the planning application. Copies of reports are available within the planning submission.
Community engagement:
EcoHolmes have been engaging with the local community around proposals for the Chippings development since 2020. Consultation has included:
Zoom online workshop sessions – a series of twelve Zoom-based workshops on 6 local housing related themes held over the summer and autumn of 2020, with a further two sessions on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th March 2022.
Housing Need Survey – a specialist survey of the households in the HD9 1 postcode area, which demonstrated the need for more affordable homes. You can find this HNS report included in our planning submission.
Scholes community engagement – Consultation consisting of over 11 hours talking to people on site over four days in mid-June 2021. Local people were invited to contribute by postal flyer to 3,100 households in the area. Concepts for an EcoHolmes scheme and design briefs generated from the Zoom-session outcomes, were the focus for discussion. Over 40 people attended this event, and 22 written comments were collected. A second open event was held at Scholes Cricket Club on Thursday 17th March 2022. Again 3,100 households in the HD9 1 postcode were invited to attend. 40 people joined the afternoon session and 30 the evening session. This was a great opportunity to discuss plans with both the EcoHolmes and Architect and Planning Consultant GWP.
Information displays and advice have also been available on the theme of energy efficient homes, details here.
Scholes on-line housing survey questionnaire – designed and published to seek input from as many local residents as possible on issues previous engagement identified. Links to the survey were included in flyers sent to over 3000 households, and in emails and social media. 155 responses were received from this – the full questions and responses are included in our planning submission.