Keighley MP and Housing Minister Kris Hopkins has urged people to contribute to a consultation which will help dictate where new developments will be built in the district for years to come.

He has urged people to have their say as part of Bradford Council’s consultation on the draft core strategy, which is due to close at the end of this month.

Mr Hopkins said: “I’ve received a lot of representations from constituents who are understandably concerned about the intentions of Labour councillors in this process.

“In particular, there is a fear that green spaces in Keighley and Ilkley are under threat.

“However, the housing population boom in the district is not in Keighley or Ilkley, but in the centre of Bradford and that is where new developments should be concentrated.

“Bradford Council owns lots of land, particularly around the canal area, and there is great potential for much needed housing to be built there. There is also great scope to bring empty houses back into use.”

Mr Hopkins said he had consulted with his Conservative colleague Nick Boles, the planning minister.