(Image: submitted)
What is the Public Notice Portal?
The Public Notice Portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood.
Search the Public Notice Portal
More than 1,600 new homes are earmarked for Wharfedale under Bradford Council's newly published Draft Local Plan.
The plan, which will guide development across the district between 2025 and 2043, identifies housing growth in Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Addingham and Menston as part of Bradford's strategy to deliver a minimum of 33,669 new homes district-wide.
According to the plan, Ilkley is expected to accommodate 689 homes, while Burley-in-Wharfedale is allocated 577 dwellings. Addingham is earmarked for 208 homes and Menston for 188, giving a total of 1,662 homes across the Wharfedale area.
The document highlights the challenge of meeting housing need in Wharfedale, where opportunities for development within existing settlement boundaries are limited. As a result, the area has the highest proportion of Green Belt allocations anywhere in the Bradford district. Of the 702 homes allocated on new housing sites in Wharfedale, 678, or 96.58 per cent, are on Green Belt land, with only 24 homes allocated on non-Green Belt sites.
Council planners say there is insufficient land available within existing settlements across the district to meet housing requirements and that "exceptional circumstances" exist to justify the release of Green Belt land for development. District-wide, Green Belt allocations account for 6,889 homes within the Local Plan.
The plan states that growth in Ilkley, designated as a Tier 2 medium town, will be delivered while taking account of the town's character and environmental constraints. Burley-in-Wharfedale, Menston and Addingham are all classified as Tier 3 villages and are expected to see growth proportionate to their role, function and local circumstances.
Bradford Council says any major housing developments on land released from the Green Belt will be required to comply with national planning policy "golden rules", including the provision of affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and accessible green space.
The plan will be considered by Bradford Council's Executive next week before going out to a six-week public consultation from October 19 to November 30.
The plan and representations are then expected to be discussed at the meeting of the Full Council on 9 December before being submitted to Government for independent examination.
Council leaders say the Local Plan will provide a long-term blueprint for development and help resist speculative planning applications. Bradford Council stresses that inclusion of a site in the Local Plan does not grant planning permission, with any future development proposals still subject to the normal planning process and public consultation.
Councillor Andrew Judson, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Economy, Regeneration and Planning, said: “Having an up-to-date plan gives us much greater ability to shape where development happens and to resist inappropriate development, rather than leaving the district more exposed to speculative proposals.
“This plan seeks to strike the right balance. We need more homes, including affordable homes, land for businesses to grow and invest, and the infrastructure needed to support our communities. At the same time, we need to protect the green spaces, landscapes, heritage and natural environment that make our district special.”