Up to 100 homes planned for green belt land

Plans for up to 100 new homes to be built on green belt land outside a village near Bradford have been recommended for approval despite almost 500 objections.

The application for outline planning permission, submitted by Hargreaves Land, would see four hectares of land west of Harden Lane in Wilsden developed.

A Bradford Council planning report said there was "a demonstrable unmet need for housing" and the development would create affordable homes and infrastructure improvements.

However, people who objected to the scheme raised concerns about transport links and the loss of green space. Wilsden Parish Council described the plans as "opportunistic, unsustainable, and harmful".

The first phase of the planning application, which seeks initial permission for the development, is recommended for approval at a council meeting on Wednesday.

Planning officers said 35% of the homes built on the site would be classed as affordable.

A new priority-controlled T-junction would be created off Harden Lane to provide access to the development, under the scheme.

The site is located outside the Wilsden Conservation Area and any harm to the rural landscape was judged to be "less than substantial", according to the report.

It concluded that the site could be considered "grey belt" land and that it "should not be regarded as inappropriate development in the green belt".

However, members of the parish council said they "strongly objected" to the plan and argued it "would set a dangerous precedent for opportunistic development."

The council also received 487 letters opposing the scheme and nine in support.

Concerns raised included increased traffic along Harden Lane and additional strain on existing services such as public transport, GP surgeries and schools in the area.

The development could also "harm protected views, openness and the rural approach to the village" resulting in "loss of village character," people said.

Planning officers have recommended conditions on approving the application including more than £100,000 towards improvements to nearby parks and bus stops.

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