Cottonstones Mill Pond at Lumb Lane - Environmental Impact Assessment Land Drainage Improvement Works
What is happening?
PUBLIC NOTICE
Calderdale Council gives notice in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Land Drainage Improvement Works) Regulations 2017 of the intent to carry out works on Cottonstones Mill Pond at Lumb Lane, Sowerby Bridge via a Lawful Development Certificate. These works are considered necessary to ensure that the standard of service provided at this location is sustained.
The works include the installation of a new spillway to replace the existing degrading spillway, stabilising the southern embankment, widening the wet side of the southern embankment with localised repairs on the dry side, installation of a valve on Lumb Clough inlet and the construction of a manhole installed with a silt trap on Sparable Clough.
In accordance with the EIA Regulations 2017 3B Exceptional Circumstances, Calderdale Council direct that the improvement works are exceptional and exempt from the regulations due to the following:
The existing condition of the mill pond is a safety concern and therefore the improvement works are an immediate necessity. The application of the regulations would cause a considerable delay on the scheme, potentially putting the public and the environment at risk should the mill pond structurally fail. This would have an adverse effect on the improvement works purpose.
The objectives of the EIA Directive have already been met as part of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal dated October 2025 and Environmental Appraisal conducted for the appraisal of the scheme - a copy of these can be requested by contacting
These assessments identified mitigation methods for the species identified local to the site.
Due to environmental and ecological restrictions, there are time constraints for construction. There are known ecological constraints in Spring. The application of the EIA regulations to the improvement works would have an adverse effect on the fulfilment of the improvement works as it would put a delay in the works being carried out.
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