OUTLINE plans for a major new 64-bed extra-care facility for the elderly have been approved.

Bradford Council had applied for permission for the new facility on the site of a former library in Wyke.

There would also be a 30-space car park, three new bungalows and a replacement police call-in station on the triangular-shaped area of grassland between Huddersfield Road and Woodside Road.

At a meeting of the council's regulatory and appeals committee today, local councillor Sarah Ferriby (Lab, Wyke) urged the committee to approve the plans.

She said: “This type of facility is very much required by the community. All too often, local residents who have been born and brought up and have lived their whole life in the community end up having to leave the community.

“That means they have to move away from family and friends to enable them to access this type of property, so I am very supportive.”

Cllr Ferriby said the police contact point was well-used, so its retention on the site had been “paramount in this application”.

But objector Malcolm Fox, of Huddersfield Road, who was speaking on behalf of “a number of local residents”, raised concerns about local parking problems and the height of the proposed three-storey facility.

He said: “The three-storey development will look down on and dwarf the existing dwellings on Huddersfield Road.”

He also said some trees had already been chopped down at the site.

Planning officers said the proposed on-site car park was deemed to be sufficient and said the height of the building would be discussed at a later stage, while acknowledging it was likely to be three storeys.

Agent Paul Glover said: “This is a brownfield site. It has unfortunately fallen into disrepair in the last few years, which is encouraging anti-social behaviour.”

Mr Glover said he had “no idea” about trees being cut down, saying they had not instructed anyone to do such work.

The plans were approved unanimously by the committee, which also asked for the applicant to explore the idea of a dedicated parking space for medical vehicles on the site.

But the plan will have to be referred to the Health and Safety Executive for further examination because of its proximity to two chemicals plants: Nufarm UK in Wyke and BASF at Low Moor.

MORE TOP STORIES