A blueprint earmarking fields in the district for thousands of new homes was described today as "mind-blowing".

The document - which proposes 7,500 new houses on green sites in Bradford and Leeds - sparked anger from councillors.

The greenbelt sites could be in Bradford and parts of Leeds and Harrogate. Areas which may be chosen include Menston, Baildon, Greengates and Esholt.

A report published by outside consultants Baker Associates proposes tens of thousands of new homes across West Yorkshire before 2016.

Bradford's Unitary Development Plan, in force until the year 2001, earmarks sites for 16,000 new homes. But the Baker report suggests the number of new properties built up to then could be as many as 32,000.

The report adds that up to 2016 - following on from the life of the existing UDP - up to 20,000 houses could be built between parts of Bradford, Leeds and Kirklees.

The figures from the outside consultants are far higher than originally envisaged.

But Chairman of the Council's Transportation, Planning and Design Committee, Councillor Latif Darr, said today: "This is not the end of the line by any means. This will now go for a great deal of consultation across the region.

"But we are obviously concerned about the projections for Bradford."

If accepted, the report, commissioned by the Regional Planning Conference for Yorkshire and Humberside, will be used to draw up regional planning guidance.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, Conservative spokesman on planning for Bradford Council, said: "It's nothing short of mind-blowing. It suggests that 7,500 houses should be sought in the Wharfe Valley, near Menston, producing a settlement - perhaps in lower Menston.

"There is also the requirement for a new 20,000 dwellings conurbation, possibly to be sited between Bierley and Birkenshaw."

Bradford Council's Liberal Democrat group condemned the plan on housing potential as "irresponsible."

The group is demanding the Council takes a tough line on negotiations where new houses are proposed.

They also claim Bradford's Northern suburbs may become dormitories for Leeds, affecting the regeneration of the district."

The group's regeneration spokesman, Coun John Cole, said: "the suggestion that thousands of homes be built in the suburbs between Bradford and Leeds will harm our environment and will not help regenerate Bradford."

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