New clinical building at Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax

What was proposed

The application sought reserved matters approval for a new clinical building, parking, landscaping, access, servicing and related works.

“Proposal: Demolition of existing buildings and the construction of new clinical accommodation totalling up to 30,000 sqm (GEA) of floorspace; parking; hard and soft landscaping; access; servicing; and other associated infrastructure and engineering works. (Reserved matters persuant to application 21/01067/OUT)”

“This application is seeking Reserved Matters approval for the demolition of existing hospital buildings and the construction of a new clinical building (NCB) totalling up to 30,000 sqm (GEA) of floorspace; parking; hard and soft landscaping; access; servicing; and other associated infrastructure and engineering works.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site forms part of the hospital estate, includes a former learning centre and car park, and lies within Skircoat Green Conservation Area.

“The site is located approximately 1.5miles to the south of Halifax Town Centre on Huddersfield Road (A629) in the Skircoat Green residential suburb of the town. The site falls within the wider Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH) estate which largely comprises a modern hospital estate, totalling 60,000sqm (GIA) floorspace across 7.3ha.”

“There are no listed buildings on the application site or in the vicinity. The site falls within the Skircoat Green Conservation Area and is in proximity to the boundary of the Huddersfield Road East Conservation Area. The Victorian Hospital buildings which lie to the east of the site are considered non-designated heritage assets.”

Officer report

Earlier planning decisions

Outline permission was approved in 2022, followed by a non-material amendment and discharge of two conditions in 2025.

“Application: 21/01067/NMA Description: Non material amendment to application 21/01067/OUT; parameter plans Decision: Approved 31/01/2025”

“Application 21/01067/DISC1 Description Submission of information to Discharge Conditions 5 (Dust Mitigation) and 6 (Contaminated Land) on planning application 21/01067/OUT Decision The details submitted for these conditions satisfy that part of the condition that requires details to be submitted and approved 26/3/2025”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, concluding that the proposal complied with planning policies and that no material considerations outweighed approval.

“The proposal are considered to accord with Chapter 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy HE1 (V) of the Calderdale Local Plan, as they are considered to have no impact on the setting of listed buildings and no impact on Huddersfield Road East or Savile Park Conservation Areas due to siting. Furthermore, the proposed development is not considered harmful to the non-”

“The proposal is considered to be acceptable subject to the conditions specified below. The recommendation to grant approval of reserved matters has been made because the development is in accordance with the policies and proposals in the Calderdale Local Plan and National Planning Policy Framework set out in the ‘Key Policy Context’ section above and there are no material considerations to outweigh the presumption in favour of such development.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Highways, flooding, trees, biodiversity, conservation, police and water consultees raised no objection or considered the proposal acceptable subject to conditions.

“Conservation – Subject to continued Conservation Team involvement in approval of sample materials, the proposal would be considered in accordance with Chapter 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy HE1 of the Calderdale Local Plan. It would be considered to have no impact on the setting of listed buildings and no impact on Huddersfield Road East or Savile Park Conservation Areas due to siting.”

“Tree Officer – The submitted proposal does identify additional trees to be removed in the grassed area adjacent to Godfrey Road that were not noted in the outline, but the majority of the trees are being retained so the boundary feature will not be significantly impacted. The submit landscape plan also shows significant replacement planting both in the grassed areas adjacent Godfrey Road as well as within the site. In view of this I have no objection to the proposal.”

Officer report

Public representations

The statutory consultation received no representations.

“The statutory public consultation period of 21 days took place between 26/3/2025 to 24/04/2025 by site notice, press advert, and neighbour letters.”

“During the public consultation, a total of no representations were made.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant attended the meeting and addressed the committee.

The committee’s decision

The committee permitted the application in accordance with the recommendation of the Director of Regeneration and Strategy.

“The Planning Officer presented a written report of the Director, Regeneration and Strategy which had been submitted in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 and reported orally that it was recommended to Permit by the Director, Regeneration and Strategy, for the reasons set out in the report.”

“RESOLVED that the application be permitted in accordance with the recommendation of the Director, Regeneration and Strategy.”

Minutes