Objections to plans for 124 homes in Queensbury (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Objections to plans for 124 homes in Queensbury

11:00am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter

A planning application has been submitted for 124 homes to be built on a four-hectare green field site in Queensbury.

The detailed bid, which would see a mixture of two to five bedroom homes built on the site, follows outline planning approval in 2011 for 155 homes on the site.

At the time the last application sparked controversy over highways issues, with one ward Councillor Michael Walls urging planners to adjourn and visit the site so that they could “realise the horror of this scheme” because of the road problems in the area.

Now Bellway Homes has submitted an application for the derelict Harrowins Farm site in Brighouse Road. Documents accompanying the bid detail that “the proposed scheme achieves a balance between making efficient use of this sustainably located site and working with the site’s individual characteristics and acknowledging the character of the wider area”.

It adds: “The scheme proposes a mixture of accommodation in detached, semi-detached and terraced properties in a size range of two, three, four and five bedroom houses. It is considered that this mix will appeal to a range of different household types and sizes.”

A spokesman for the developer said it had submitted a detailed application for the greenfield site and depending on the outcome, would be hoping to be on site by June.

He said that out of the 124 homes, most would be three, four or five bed homes, and that there would also be some two and three bed homes made available at affordable prices.

Councillor Walls (Con, Queensbury) said he would be objecting to the scheme on issues including the traffic problems it would cause for the village, and on the lack of primary school places in the area.

He did, however, admit that Bellway Homes’s plans to limit access on to Park Lane to pedestrians and cycles was to be welcomed. “This was a meadow until it was allocated as phase two housing land, but there are doubts about the area in terms of flooding,” said Coun Walls.

“Another problem is that residents are already having difficulties getting their children into local primary schools, and although they could ask the developer to contribute financially, there are no proposals for a new school in the area, which is what is needed.”

The developer has agreed to contribute 18 two and three-bedroom homes as affordable housing at a discount of 35 per cent, as well as to provide a residential Metrocard scheme. Bradford Council is asking for £143,000 towards recreation, and £217,000 for education provision.