The figures behind plans to build more than 45,000 homes across Bradford must be independently reviewed, according to two senior councillors.

A plan put forward by Bradford Council for its Local Development Framework (LDF) says the district needs 45,500 homes by the year 2028.

But Councillors Adrian Naylor and Chris Greaves, who formed the Independents group on the Council earlier this year, say the figures should be backed up by an impartial viewpoint.

They say the Council’s budget is subject to an audit every year and they want Council chief executive, Tony Reeves, to ensure the LDF plans are subject to similar scrutiny.

Now the pair have submitted a motion, due to be debated at the full Council meeting next Tuesday, which reads: “The LDF is critical to meeting the future needs of the Bradford District. The LDF needs to be based on the most accurate and valid data available.

“This Council, therefore, instructs the chief executive to obtain external confirmation as to the accuracy and applicability of data used to inform the LDF both demographic and economic and that the report should be taken to the Executive at the appropriate stage of the LDF process.”

Coun Greaves, who represents Wharfedale, said: “It is clear that this is a complex process that has produced hundreds of pages of information generating more than 1,200 responses which are currently being worked on.

“It is no surprise that in many sections of the community the sheer complexity of the process has led to a mistrust over the validity of some data and a concern over the depth of thought that has been given to certain conclusions that are based on that data.”

Coun Naylor, who represents Craven, said: “If this were Bradford’s budget then it would be subject to an independent review from the section 151 officer; if it were a set of accounts there would be an independent audit.

“The LDF is the foundation on which we will build the future of the district, we want to ensure that foundation is sound.

“This means having independent confirmation as to the accuracy and applicability of the data used.”