A PLAN for 23 homes in Wrose that had been recommended for approval was rejected by Councillors at a meeting yesterday morning.

Members of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee voted unanimously to refuse the application for 23 properties on land in Kings Drive, off Livingstone Road in Wrose.

The decision was taken due to concerns about the cumulative effect this development would have on traffic and the roads in the area alongside various other developments in the area.

Residents had also raised concerns about flooding risk, the loss of green space and natural habitat for wildlife at the meeting.

The planning department had recommended the plans for 17 houses and 6 bungalows, including six properties put up as affordable housing, be approved to be built on the patch of privately owned land.

The plans also included the diversion of a natural waterway.

Anne-Marie Field, who spoke on before of Kings Drive residents.

She said: “The land provides vital habitat for wildlife and this land falls in the Bradford Wildlife Network.

“There are currently approved applications for more than 2,600 dwellings in north Bradford including on the Canal Road corridor.

“All the new traffic will have to along Wrose Road to get to Canal Road, there is no other way.

“The density of housing is also too much. Water comes up through the ground into my garden and house and building these houses could make that worse.”

A spokesman from Bradford Council’s flood risk department said they expected changes to the drainage system to actually reduce the flood risk to existing and new homes.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Labour, Windhill & Wrose) added: “At Fagley Quarry 700 houses are being built, and there will be 1,300 in Bolton Woods.

“We are doing our fair share for housing in Windhill & Wrose.

“There is also the traffic. There could be 60 cars coming from this to Livingstone Road adding to all the ones that currently go that way.

“I have a number of concerns, but the traffic increase is my main one.”

Committee member Cllr Jack Rickard said he was “uncomfortable” with the application.

“I think the impact will be significant when considered alongside other developments,” he said.

Committee chair Cllr David Warburton proposed to refuse the application, which was seconded by Cllr Alan Wainwright, and backed by the rest of the committee.

After the meeting, Ms Field added: “I am overjoyed with the decision, I only wish I had more time to tell them about the effect it would have on wildlife. It is a lovely area to live.”