Fears development of 100 homes would 'merge' two Yorkshire villages
“Opportunistic” plans to build 100 homes on green belt land outside a Yorkshire village could be approved later this week.
Almost 500 people have objected to plans by Hargreaves Land Limited to build housing on land to the North of Harden Lane in Wilsden, including Wilsden Parish Council.
There are fears the development could “merge” the village with neighbouring Harden.
But planning officers have recommended that members of Bradford Council’s regulatory and appeals committee approve the application when they meet on Thursday (Aug 13).
A report to the panel says the land “does not contribute strongly to the purposes of green belt” – and so could be considered as Grey belt, paving the way for development.
If the plans are approved, conditions will include that 35 per cent of the homes be classed as affordable and that the developer provide £130,408 to improve parks and public play areas around Wilsden.
The proposed development has been dubbed “Wilsden Fold” and the application describes it as “an exciting opportunity to create a sustainably located and sensitively designed extension to Wilsden.”
Although the housing would be built on green belt land, the application says: “(The development) will lead to a stronger green belt boundary to the north of the settlement, using Bent’s Lane as a clear defensible boundary and establishing a landscaped green belt buffer to the north western edge of the settlement.
“By providing a range of house types to meet different housing needs, the new development will seek to create a balanced yet vibrant new community that benefits from easy access to Wilsden and neighbouring towns and villages via sustainable transport methods.
“The delivery of new housing will also allow for the modest growth of the village, attracting new residents which will help to sustain the provision of services and facilities.”
The report to the committee says 487 people have objected to the plans. One of the concerns is that new housing would “merge Wilsden and Harden and cause loss of rural identity.”
Wilsden Parish Council said it “strongly objects” to the application, calling it “a speculative, opportunistic proposal, submitted outside the plan-led process.”
They added: “Approval would set a dangerous precedent for opportunistic development.”
But in their report to the committee, planners said: “The site is considered to be grey belt, and the proposal is not therefore inappropriate development in the green belt.
“It occupies a sustainable location on the edge of Wilsden and would deliver up to 100 dwellings, including 35 per cent affordable housing, making a substantive contribution to meeting identified housing need and addressing persistent under-delivery.”
The committee meets in Bradford City Hall at 10am on Thursday (Aug 13).