New house-building should be in the centre of Bradford rather than the outskirts of the district if the city is to be regenerated, an MP has warned.

Shipley MP Philip Davies told MPs proposals for big building developments in Micklethwaite and Menston did nothing to alleviate the housing need in the centre of Bradford.

In a housing debate in Parliament, he said: “At a time when the Council and all of us are trying to regenerate the centre of Bradford, it is rather counter-productive to build houses in that part of the district, the residents of which will shop in Leeds, regenerating Leeds even more, rather than Bradford.”

Developers Redrow and Bellway want to build more than 400 homes in Sty Lane, Micklethwaite, Barratt Homes want to build 174 homes on a site on Derry Hill, Menston, and Taylor Wimpey aims to construct 124 homes on Bingley Road.

But the controversial plans have met strong objection both from local action groups and Mr Davies.

A referendum was also held in Menston, with 98 per cent of people backing a motion against the plans.

Mr Davies added: “These developments are wrong on every level. They are planned for beautiful parts of the countryside and whichever idiot decided it was a good idea for housing development to be located there should be locked up. I defy anyone to go there and look around and think it was a good place to build houses.

“It is an environmental vandalism. The Council is adamant we need more houses in Bradford to deal with the rising population. But this should be done in the centre of the district where there is need, not on the outskirts as it does not alleviate the problem. In addition it will just benefit Leeds not the regeneration of Bradford as people will jump on the train to Leeds – which is counter-productive.

“This is ridiculous on every level. Bradford needs a coherent policy to encourage house-building where it is needed and in a way which regenerates city centres.”

Bradford Council’s Shipley Area Planning Panel will meet next month to decide the fate of the planning applications.

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