CONTROVERSIAL plans to build homes on land designated as urban greenspace are poised to get full permission next week.

A planning committee at Bradford Council had originally refused outline planning permission in 2014 for up to 70 homes on land at Sandhill Fold, Idle Moor, saying it should remain as urban greenspace.

But applicants Mr Wood, Mr Shaw and MGL Homes then appealed the decision, with one of their central arguments being that the Council had failed to earmark enough land for housing in the district.

Government planning inspector Ian Radcliffe sided with the applicants and overturned the Council’s decision, to the dismay of green space campaigners and the three ward councillors.

Now a developer, Avant Homes, has brought forward detailed plans for 60 homes on the site.

The Council’s regulatory and appeals committee will meet on Thursday to make a decision, but officers have recommended approval.

Councillor Dominic Fear (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) said nearby residents had raised concerns about aspects of the development at a recent consultation event, but many of these had since been addressed.

He said: “Our big issue was the principle of development as a whole.

“It’s a really important bit of green space, it’s a green lung for this bit of Bradford and that was our main argument at the time.

“Obviously the planning inspector has overturned that.

“In terms of the development itself it is not too dissimilar to the ones already there. The problem was the principle of it.”

A statement by the developer’s architects says there would be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes.

It says: “The proposals will generate a new place that aims to meet the needs of the new community and its future generations.

“The proposals seek to deliver a sustainable development and a high quality of life that improves economic, social and environmental well being.

“The proposals therefore have the potential to support the existing community facilities and local businesses through an increased population living nearby.”

The planning report reveals the developer is asking to reduce the number of affordable homes included in the plan, from nine to five, because of affordability concerns.

This is due to “amongst other things, the abnormal costs associated with the extensive remediation works that will be required to overcome the former mining and quarrying activities on the site”, it says.

Cllr Fear said the underlying issue - of a lack of housing land in the district - still remained, which left similar land parcels elsewhere at risk.

More housing land would be allocated under Bradford Council’s long-awaited Local Plan, which will set out where 42,100 homes should go.

Currently, the core strategy of this plan remains on hold to allow it to be scrutinised by the Government, after Shipley MP Philip Davies asked ministers to take a look amid concerns over how it would affect his constituency.