Developers will be forced out of the district's green fields and into urban areas under Bradford Council's new blueprint for the district unveiled today.

The new draft Unitary Development Plan outlines proposals for the development of the district over the next 15 years. It sets out to preserve green fields for the time being and concentrate on developing areas within the city centre and the district's main towns which were once dominated by the district's thriving textile industry.

Under the new proposals developers will be forced to look at urban and brownfield sites (recycled land), rather than taking the "easy option" of building on green sites.

The UDP replaces the existing plan drawn up in the mid 1990s. It supports the district's 2020 Vision, taking into account changes in national and regional planning policy.

The plan spells out in detail where the council is proposing to allow developers to build new housing, industry, shops and offices. It also lays out plans to protect the environment and safeguard green belt areas for the next two decades. And in a major change of focus, the council is encouraging developers to use brownfield land for new housing, convert existing buildings into homes, and explore opportunities for mixed housing and business use areas to put back the development of green field sites.

Many additional sites have been found through Bradford's reorganisation of education, with school sites becoming vacant.

Andy Haigh, Bradford Council's group planning manager said: "Rather than allocating more sites we are making use of the ones we've got.

"We are not making developers go out on a limb - we are trying to focus on environments where they can develop, and support them."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment, said: "We are looking at how different areas suit different kinds of employment. It is vital that the plan allocates enough sites to meet the needs of local companies wanting to expand and those businesses looking to invest in the district.

"Our revised plan aims to make the most of what suitable land there is."

A major site earmarked for development is the Thornton Road corridor where the idea is to re-develop existing buildings and create developments for both urban living and employment.

The council is working with Metro on improving bus links to the site.

Under the plan, some controversial development sites are being returned to green belt. This is because of falling housing requirements and a change in Government policy.

They include Jenny Lane in Baildon - the subject of a long-running protest by residents. The site, which was earmarked for housing, will now be retained as playing fields.

Jenny Lane Action Group secretary Julia Donaghue, seen on the right celebrating with Pam Read and other campaigners,said: "I'm thrilled. The people of Baildon are going to be over the moon. People will be able to continue using this fantastic resource because if it's recreational space any future planning application shouldn't succeed.

"We're really pleased we've been supported by the council on this, I'm sure it's in response to all the pressure we've put on over the last four years.

"When we first started campaigning people said 'you won't succeed' - but this just proves that if you're prepared to fight you do have a say in what happens in the community.''

Coun Hawkesworth said: "Where we believe there are good planning reasons to change a site's allocation and protect it from development for the benefit of local people that is what we are proposing to do."

She said that the UDP was likely to be welcomed by residents but not by landowners and developers.

A Housebuilder's Federation spokesman said: "Urban regeneration is a priority to reduce green field development and regenerate Britain's towns and cities."

"The target is for 60 per cent of new homes to be built on brownfield sites by 2008. We are already on the verge of reaching this target with 57 per cent last year.

"However, while it is successful and reducing greenfield land use, it is important that all northern cities provide a broad mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced homes to make sure they can compete on equal terms with the south which is much more detached housing."

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