Hugely controversial plans to build 138 homes in Silsden have been approved – despite hundreds of objections.
Persimmon Homes applied to build the new housing estate off Bolton Road, and on Thursday the proposals went before a Bradford Council planning meeting.
Planning officers had recommended the development be approved – despite around 800 objections to the scheme, including one from Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore.
And on Thursday the majority of the Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee voted to approve the plans after a meeting attended by a large number of the objectors.
Their concerns included the impact of such a large development on local footpaths, drainage and traffic, as well as the loss of a green space in the area.
Silsden Town Council had also objected, raising issues such as the impact on school places and the increase in traffic the homes would bring.
The properties will be built in fields which stretch from Bolton Road at the Brown Bank Lane junction across to the site of the new Silsden Primary School on Hawber Cote Lane.
Referring to the loss of green space, officers said: “The Council’s evidence base is clear that housing needs across the Bradford District and Silsden cannot be met solely on previously developed land.
“The Council’s most recent Strategic Land Assessment identifies that there is only capacity for 212 homes to come forward on previously developed land in Silsden, against a requirement of 1,200 new homes.”
They added: “The effects of the proposal on the highways network; drainage; trees/hedgerows; public rights of way; landscape, the surrounding locality; and neighbouring residential properties have been assessed and are considered acceptable.”
At the meeting Councillor Caroline Whitaker (Green, Craven) spoke against the plans. She said: “The road network in Silsden is cramped, causing gridlock and pollution in the town. There is one classified road, the A6034 which passes through the middle of Silsden.
“This road is a traffic ‘sewer’ carrying HGVs, buses and commuter traffic heading from Lancashire towards Leeds, from the South Pennines to Harrogate, local traffic connecting with Skipton, Ilkley and Keighley plus nearly all the local traffic within Silsden.
“The developer’s traffic impact assessment concludes that 85 per cent of journeys from the houses will be made by car.”
Committee member Councillor Matt Edwards questioned claims by the developer that residents of the new homes could use means of transport other than cars, claiming the site was a “car centric development on top of a hill.”
But when it came to the vote a majority of the panel supported the planning officers’ recommendations and approved the plans.
Conditions of the approval include that 28 of the homes be classed as affordable and that Persimmon pay £100,000 to the Council help provide a new pedestrian and cycling bridge across the A629.
Persimmon also committed to a local homes guarantee so employees of Airedale Hospital and people living within a five-mile radius will have first refusal on properties for the first four weeks.
After the meeting James Parkin, Land Director at Persimmon West Yorkshire said: ‘We’re pleased that committee members have voted to reaffirm the Council’s recommendation for approval.
“This development will provide 138 much needed high quality new homes in Bradford for local homebuyers.”
Robbie Moore MP called the decision 'shocking'. He added: "Once again, Bradford Council have decided to run roughshod over local voices - and this is Labour's pledge to 'bulldoze' through local opposition in action.
"I have raised my concerns directly with Bradford Council on multiple occasions on the grounds that Silsden simply cannot cope with more housing with its current infrastructure. But once again, they refuse to listen.
"We have been inundated by new developments over recent years - and to make matters worse, there are still further houses being proposed which Bradford Council are still considering giving the green light. This is yet another example that Labour do not care about local voices."
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