CAMPAIGNERS battling plans to build more than 400 homes on green space say are looking to recruit new members to closely scrutinise the major housing development.

A proposal for between 420 and 440 homes in Sty Lane, Micklethwaite, Bingley, was rubber-stamped after the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, agreed with Bradford Council’s granting of outline planning permission last year.

The scheme would involve the removal of a traffic swing bridge and its replacement with a vehicle and pedestrian swing bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The permission, announced in September last year, had 40 conditions attached and the reasons behind it are outlined in a 146-page document by the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government.

Now members of the Greenhill Action Group (GAG), who have spent £250,000 on their nine-year legal fight, are looking to renew their battle.

They will hold a public meeting on Thursday, July 20, at 7.30pm, at Bingley Methodist Church, Mornington Road, Bingley.

The previous round of GAG’s appeal cost them £100,000 in legal fees and advice from planning and transport consultants.

Mick Meares, GAG chairman, said the group has £10,000 assigned for any legal costs but is looking to recruit new members rather than raise funds for its campaign.

He said: “Our group needs to find new blood to pick up the baton and take our campaign into the next and, quite possibly, final phase.

“Outline consent may have been granted but there remains an opportunity for the group.

“We need to scrutinise the application. We want to get the best outcome for local residents on this as we can.

“We are not asking for money from people, we want people to come forward with energy to continue it.

“There is still a campaign to be had and a role for the group left to play.

“We need to attract new volunteers to organise our committee locally."

An eight-day public inquiry was held in October 2015 and presided over by planning inspector George Baird, whose report has been supported by the DCLG.

While full permission is granted for the replacement of the swing bridge, which will be essential to allow reliable access for emergency vehicles, only outline permission has been granted for those houses to be served by the bridge.

No work can begin on that major section of the development until the bridge has been built, although that does not stop complete plans and work progressing on 22 homes off Oakwood Drive.

Bradford Council initially opposed the development because of concerns over emergency access should the swing bridge break down, but later approved the plans when the local authority was satisfied that those concerns had been addressed.

James Poynor, Redrow’s managing director in Yorkshire, said: “This is a complex development which we continue to progress behind the scenes, but currently there is nothing new to report.”

No representative from developer Bellway was available for comment.