In August 2017 Calderdale Council released their Local Plan to deliver the level of new housing in the borough required by Government. In that plan it is widely accepted that the council will propose 2,057 out of the 17,000 new houses be built in the wards of Shelf & Northowram.

95% of these homes are to be built on Green Belt!

The Shelf & Northowram Local Plan Forum are a group of like-minded local residents that have come together as a constituted group to work with, and inform, local residents about the Calderdale Local Plan. We are unpaid volunteers with no professional planning experience, working together to try and keep the ‘village feel’ to Shelf and Northowram.

As such we are looking for support and donations from local residents to help us spread the message across the entire community and ensure that each resident has their voice heard. Our first task would be the production and placement of banners in key areas of the villages to ensure as many people as possible know exactly what is happening...you would be amazed how many do not. We would also put the money towards the monthly hosting costs of the website over the next two years up to the final decision on the plan in 2019 and any further campaign activity during that time

Our Aims are to:

Maintain and protect Green Belt land within the Ward.

Influence the emerging Calderdale Local Plan such that development within the Ward is sustainable and has minimal impact on the Environment, Infrastructure, and Green Belt.

Provide information and assistance to residents such that they may discuss, support or object to policies and proposals contained in the Calderdale Local Plan.

Represent residents and provide evidence or comment in support of or objection to policies and proposals contained in the Calderdale Local Plan at such Public Enquiries as may be called by the Council or Independent Inspector.

Gather evidence and provide comment in support of or objection to policies and proposals contained in the Calderdale Local Plan