EcoHolmes have taken an exciting major step forward in our journey to build low energy homes that local people can afford. Kirklees Planning Committee on 2nd March 2023 approved our planning application to build 10 homes on the ex-quarry site Chippings on the edge of Scholes village. The hard work of making it a reality now begins and the baton passes to our partners Connect Housing and architects GWP Architecture

With the help of a recommendation from the planners and support from councillors who recognise the pressing need for affordable places to live, this ground-breaking decision was taken 5 votes to 2. We are grateful to local councillors who have argued for the proposal and to the many people who wrote in to support the application.

It is first for Kirklees and the Holme Valley in two ways:

  • We are the first Community Land Trust to get to get planning consent for 100% affordable homes in Kirklees
  • This is the first use of the Council’s rural exceptions planning policy which allows house-building on an exceptional basis on greenbelt land if it is exclusively for local people who would otherwise be unable to afford to live where they have a proven local connection.  Our case for this exception has been robustly challenged by the Kirklees planners. In the end, they accepted the evidence of our study into unmet housing needs existing in this part of the Holme Valley.

The new homes will be built to high standards of energy efficiency ensuring lower fuel bills, at reduced rents, secure tenancies and let to people with a local connection.

“We are delighted that the Council’s Planning Committee has the vision to support 10 families who can build their lives in the villages they come from where they have their family around them”, said Stephen Sheard, Chair of EcoHolmes.

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. We are delighted that the quality of design of the scheme was recognised, particularly the energy efficiency elements of the homes to be built on Passivhaus principles.

In a rare move the homes will be built in the Green Belt – justified under Government policy only because the homes will be only for the evidenced need of people who cannot afford to live in their local area.

Working closely with the Holme Valley Land Charity (whose land it is) and Connect Housing, a local West Yorkshire housing association, EcoHolmes have designed a small housing community using ideas gathered through consultation with local people across the Holme Valley.

Chippings housing site, Chapelgate, Scholes