Sunday, November 20, 2005

Above is an artist impression of the proposed development between Victoria Road, Hebden Bridge and the Hebden Water, next to the children's playground. The site is currently occupied by two industrial buildings either side of a narrow cobbled street (Brook Street). The building to the east of Brook Street is a former mill constructed of local stone under a slate roof. It comprises three storeys, the lower floor of which is a semi-basement accessed from a narrow passageway between the building and the boundary with the adjacent playground. The building to the west of Brook Street is of more modern construction comprising stone walls and profiled sheet roof.

Hangingroyd Mill was completely rebuilt in the 1980s and since then was in continual use until quite recently. It is currently empty. Victoria Mill, built around 1875, was the home of an industrial pattern makers but work has been wound down and the building is now largely unused. The employment and marketing report deals with this in more detail.

The floor levels of both buildings are below the level recommended in the Flood Risk Assessment and are therefore subject to potential flooding.

The development proposed will provide a mix of sustainable uses on the site. This will comprise small business units of between 618ft2 - 1500ft2. The developrs say this will be suitable for emerging locally based businesses, and can be combined to provide bigger premises as businesses grow. The floor levels will be set above the predicted flood plain level as recommended in the Flood Risk Assessment.

The business units will be complemented by a range of family houses grouped around a landscaped courtyard. It is envisaged that the courtyard will be constructed in high quality hard landscape materials. All properties will benefit from private garden areas with raised deck patios.

The develops claim that the scale and appearance of the buildings have been carefully considered to provide variety and interest and to be sympathetic in character to adjacent properties and the local area.

The houses are all three storey. Those properties closest to Victoria Road have the upper floor integrated into the roof space with natural light provided by roof lights or dormer windows. This ensures that the buildings are in proportion with the adjacent properties on Victoria Road. The eaves height of these houses is approximately 2m lower than the existing.

It is claimed that the apartments and work units will harmonise with the houses, and echo the scale and mass of the mill building which stood on the site. The buildings will be constructed in local materials - stone, with slate roofs.

See also

• Mango's proposals to build over the river in Planning Watch
• Keep the Millpond Green campaign

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