Green space campaigners are hoping to set up an action group to battle plans to offer 220 acres of land for development.

The Rawdon Trust has offered the land, at Rawdon Billing, to developers and is currently in negotiations with housebuilders about the site, between Yeadon, Rawdon and Horsforth.

One community group, Wharfedale and Airedale Review Development (WARD) has held a demonstration on Billing Hill to protest against the proposals, and chairman Dr David Ingham said people now want to form the action group to fight any future plans.

“The consensus following the demonstration was that WARD should convene a public meeting to form a Rawdon action group to fight proposals for development on this greenbelt land which might be made in the future,” he said.

“Presently there is no planning application lodged so there are no grounds to lodge an objection but WARD is monitoring the situation.”

Dr Ingham said the demonstration was attended by Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew, along with Leeds City councillors, including Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon), who believes any development could cause serious issues right across Aireborough and the A65 corridor.

He said an application had been made to include this area of land on the Council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) – an exercise all Local Authorities must carry out to identify land potentially available for housing development.

“News of the proposal first came to light when surveyors were seen working in the area and residents became worried,” Coun Campbell said.

“I am concerned to hear enquiries are being made to potentially develop the land surrounding Rawdon Billing for housing.

“This 220 acre site is in an area that does not have the infrastructure to support such large scale development.

“The road network is already overstretched, local schools are full and a development of this nature would push them to breaking point.

“Such development would also fundamentally alter the character of Yeadon by filling in the important greenbelt corridor between Yeadon, Rawdon and Horsforth.”