A HOUSING association has gone back to the drawing board with development plans for an area of brownfield land in Bradford.

Incommunities had been given planning permission just last year to build new bungalows on the grassed area, at Tristram Avenue in West Bowling’s Parkside estate.

At the time, its application said there was “a high demand for bungalows” and the idea of building more had met with approval from residents.

But the planned new bungalows have not been built and the housing group now wants to put up 18 two-storey family homes instead.

The development would include a mixture of semi-detached and terraced homes, which would all be rented out as social housing.

Each home would have two bedrooms and there would be a total of 24 new car parking spaces.

The vacant land once housed high-rise apartment blocks, which have since been demolished.

A further four homes are also planned for a piece of land opposite, at Tannett Green, a spokesman said.

In a statement to planners, architects said the bungalow plan had been reconsidered because “due to further changes in government policy and funding this type of housing is no longer viable”.

Rupert Pometsey, director of Incommunities’ development arm Lumia Homes, said: “We have submitted plans to redevelop a former housing site off Tristram Avenue to provide 18 two-bedroom houses.

“The new application replaces previous consent to build 10 bungalows which, following a reassessment, offers a more viable option to deliver much-needed family-sized homes.

“We have also submitted a further planning application for four more homes on an adjacent site at Tannett Green.

“Subject to planning approval, we would plan to start on site in early 2017.”

But one local councillor said she was keen to find out more about why the bungalow idea had been scrapped.

Councillor Naveeda Ikram (Ind, Little Horton) said: “It’s a densely populated area and bungalows have always been welcomed and appreciated.

“There has been a demand for it as well because bungalows are good for elderly people.”

The development plans will also affect two lay-bys along Springwood Gardens.

The architects’ letter to planners says: “One of these is associated with a bus stop, the other appears to be redundant. We propose the removal of both lay-bys.

“The highway has more than adequate width for a bus to stop and a car to overtake.

“Retaining the lay-bys would cause a conflict with the driveways of the proposed properties.”

A public consultation into the plans will run until September 13. Bradford Council’s planning department is then expected to make a decision by November 9.