A MAJOR plan has been revealed to build 700 houses at Bolton Woods Quarry once its stone supply runs out.

The 70 acre site is next to land already earmarked for a new £150 million urban village, which would include 1,000 homes, and the side-by-side development has been welcomed as Bradford Council tackles the district's housing shortage.

The Marshall family, which owns the stone quarry, is behind the outline plans for the mixture of two, three and four bedroom semi-detached and detached houses and small terraces.

The application describes the quarry's long-term future as "economically unviable" and so another use needs to be found for the land.

Councillor Val Slater, the Council's executive member with responsibility for housing, said was broadly supportive of the scheme, as it would provide a boost to much needed housing stock in the area.

"We need to provide 42,500 homes in the district by 2030 and that area long Canal Road is really important. There is no doubt we have shortage of housing so we do need sites to be developed," she said.

"This one is probably a longer term project as the quarry is still in use and there will obviously be further discussions about access and infrastructure, but I broadly welcome it."

The Marshalls, who have been involved in the site since the 1920s quarrying Yorkstone there, have already received approval for similar outline plans for 600 homes on the site of Fagley Quarry.

The Bolton Woods homes would be accessed from East Bolton Hall Road, Livingstone Road, Bolton Hall Road and a new junction on Poplar Park Road.

A planning document submitted to Bradford Council on behalf of the Marshalls said: "For economic and site constraint reasons the long term viability of the quarry is diminishing, therefore we have explored the site's potential."

It added: "The site is sustainable not only by the nature of its re-use but also by its location amidst extensive housing, its exceptional transport links and its location near established centres, making it a 'key site' critical to the delivery of housing targets in the National Planning Policy Framework."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe (Lab, Windhill and Wrose), said ward councillors were surprised by the application "particularly given the number of houses proposed."

"We'll be asking the Quarry owners to talk to ward councillors about their plans so we can properly assess what it means for the area," she said.

"I'd always recommend that any developer does public consultation. People in Bolton Woods need to have the opportunity to take a look for themselves."

Plans for the neighbouring New Bolton Woods urban village were approved by Bradford Council this month.

The scheme is a joint venture between the Council and regeneration firm Urbo, under the banner of the Canal Road Urban Village Limited (CRUVL). It will include up to 1,000 homes, a school, a village centre and shops and take up to 15 years to be built.

CRUVL chairman Peter Swallow said both housing plans were part of the Council's area action plan for Canal Road.

"I think it works side by side with our project. It's some years off yet because there are still some reserves in the quarry and some site preparation works to be done.

"We see this as being complementary to our scheme rather than conflicting," he said.

A decision on the quarry plan is due in February next year.

A spokesman for the applicant was unable to comment when approached by the Telegraph & Argus.