An attempt to make “amendments” to an approved housing development in the Aire Valley has been refused, because the proposals stray too far from the original plans.

In 2008 Bradford Council approved plans by Zulfi Fiaz to build three houses on land off Stubbing House, Hollin Road, Shipley.

But last year he informed the council he planned to make a “non-material amendment” to the application, a planning term meaning a minor change to what was already approved.

Instead of two semi-detached houses, he now wanted to build a block of four flats and change the access to the site.

Last week, planning officers refused this request, saying the changes were too much and: “would result in a significant alteration to the design, scale and appearance of the approved development.”