Cautious approval for new DB campus

Byline: DAVE HIMELFIELD

Rod Baxter, 64, of Mirfield, said: "My main concern is noise pollution. It's heavy industry and some people will be very near to it.Susan Horsman, 64, added: "That said, David Brown have done all they can to tone the visual impact down." D av i d Brown hope for more employment and Mirfield needs it."We're just a bit bothered by the road. It's already slow enough so any changes are a bit of a worry."CAPTION(S):Residents praised the design of the campus and welcomed the prospect of 150 new jobs over the next four years.Engineering company David Brown yesterday unveiled detailed plans for a multi-million pound complex at the Mirfield 25 site, off Leeds Road.Irene Bruffell, 76, said: "Hopefully it will create some jobs. David Brown has a good reputation."PLANS for a 10-acre engineering campus have been met with cautious approval by prospective neighbours.But some neighbours expressed concern that the development would increase traffic on the already busy A62 Leeds Road.While new jobs are yet to be announced, David Brown hopes the Mirfield campus will create extra employment for the area when it is completed in 2013.But Geoff Horsman, 73, of Mirfield, was less convinced.* ON SHOW: Kate Norman, of Brown's, explains the plans to Ken and Irene Bruffell. Below: An image of how the Mirfield development would look (PC120811Mbrowns-01)"It seems that Kirklees are short of land on the Huddersfield side and Mirfield is being targeted."Mr Horsman said: "We're not happy. We've lived here a long time and Mirfield was full of fields.The firm will also retain part of its sprawling 17-acre site at Park Works where the rest of its employees will work.The development, which includes a production plant, a research centre and 300 parking spaces, will house 270 of David Brown's 450 workers.The development, which will reach a maximum height of 10 metres, will be dug into the hillside and screened by trees to reduce the visual impact, a spokesman for David Brown said. Ken Bruffell, 77, from Mirfield, said: "We like the look of the actual building itself. It's attractive.Detailed proposals are expected to be submitted to Kirklees Council by the end of the month."It will be creating jobs and apprenticeship opportunities"."It all looks OK to me. I don't think it looks out of place and it won't be as visible."The proposals were made public at a meeting at Christ The King church, Mirfield, yesterday.

* ON SHOW: Kate Norman, of Brown's, explains the plans to Ken and Irene Bruffell. Below: An image of how the Mirfield development would look (PC120811Mbrowns-01)