BUILDING more than 200 homes at green fields in Thackley would not severely affect traffic on local roads, an expert has said.

Highways consultant Thomas Bunn was giving evidence on behalf of developer Persimmon Homes on the third day of a Government planning inquiry.

Dr Bunn said he had looked extensively at the impact the developer's proposal to build up to 220 homes at Cote Farm, off Leeds Road, would have on nearby junctions.

The planning inquiry heard an article in the Telegraph & Argus had highlighted the A657 Leeds Road, from Shipley to Leeds, as the most congested in the district.

But Dr Bunn said his research gave a different picture. He said it showed peak-time congestion on the A657 was currently broadly similar to traffic on other local A-roads, such as the A650 between Bradford and the M62.

Bradford Council, which turned down planning permission for the scheme, is no longer arguing that one of the reasons it should be refused is because of the impact on the highways network.

But local objectors disagree.

Earlier in the inquiry, ward councillor Dominic Fear (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) had said he was worried about the impact the new homes would have on three junctions: Leeds Road and Town Lane, Leeds Road and Carr Lane and New Line and Harrogate Road in Greengates.

The inquiry, at City Hall, heard Dr Bunn's modelling had looked at the impact of the development on each of these junctions.

Dr Bunn said the modelling had also taken into account traffic which would be generated by other new developments expected for Simpson Green and Fagley Quarry.

He said this modelling showed the proposed development of the Cote Farm site would not "have a severe impact" on congestion at the junction of Leeds Road and Carr Lane.

On the other hand, Dr Bunn said the development would have an impact on congestion at the junction of Leeds Road and Town Lane.

But he said the developer could bring forward an improvement scheme at this junction which would result in an overall "positive highway benefit".

This could form a condition of planning approval, he said.

He added: "The situation at Greengates is a bit complicated. We have a small impact on that. I'm not convinced it is a severe impact."

The inquiry heard that a £6.8 million upgrade to the Greengates junction was due shortly, with a private developer building homes nearby expected to contribute £1.98m of this.

Dr Bunn said Miller Homes was likely to make this contribution, as it was imminently due to start building homes at Simpson Green.

But if it didn't make this contribution, and Persimmon Homes was granted permission to develop Cote Farm, Persimmon would contribute this money instead.

The inquiry also heard evidence from Persimmon's heritage consultant Mike Bottomley, about the effect the development would have on the setting of Grade II listed farm buildings Cote Farm and Little Cote farm.

He said in the main he agreed with the Council's heritage consultant Katy Lightbody that the development would cause harm, but that this harm would be "less than substantial".

And Persimmon's ecology consultant, Robert Weston, spoke about the ecological impact of the scheme.

He said since the original planning application was turned down, the developer had revised its plans.

These revised plans gave "improved protection to Crooked Lane, an increase in the amount of green-space available for habitat creation, retention and provision of more trees and hedgerow, and the provision of water features".

Planning inspector Clive Hughes said the inquiry would be making a visit to the site today.