Low energy homes for local people at a price they can afford took a step forward this week – Partners, EcoHolmes (the Holme Valley’s own Community Land Trust) and Holme Valley Land Charity have agreed to seek planning permission to use a parcel of land at Chippings on the edge of Scholes village for 10 new homes. The homes will be for rental by local people at affordable rents and will remain permanently affordable.

Work will now begin on preparing a Planning Application to be submitted to Kirklees Council. Site investigation and design work will take place over the next few months and local residents will be consulted to help shape the Application. There will be another chance to comment when the Council considers the application.

Stephen Sheard, Chair of EcoHolmes, said “We are a local charitable trust run by volunteers which seeks to provide affordable, low-energy homes for people in housing need who live and work in the Holme Valley. We are very pleased that the Land Charity has agreed to committing this site that helps us achieve this goal, as low-energy, affordable homes are much-needed in the Holme Valley. We look forward to a successful partnership.”

Rachel Hogley, Chair of Holme Valley Land Charity (HVLC), added that “We have been considering how we can best use our disused quarry sites for real community benefit. For many years, this site in Scholes has been identified as a potential location for affordable homes for local people, who are often priced out of our area. We are delighted that in partnership with EcoHolmes, we have taken one step closer to achieving this aim by agreeing to transfer the site to EcoHolmes through a long-term leasehold. This arrangement will make sure the land is retained as an affordable housing site in perpetuity and also secure an annual rental for HVLC, which we will ring fence for spending on local projects in the surrounding area. We look forward to the project developing further this year.”

We would welcome your involvement in the next phase of consultation on this project. If you are able, please join our online discussions next month and come along to our consultation event in March. Once dates for these are confirmed they will be posted to our website and media pages.  Alternatively you can email us at contact@ecoholmes.org.uk  or click here to subscribe to our mailing list. Also, if you want to show your support for EcoHolmes and our mission, please click here to join us as a member for £1