PLANS for 51 houses on a site alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal have prompted renewed fears over access problems.

Councillors are anxious about how the proposed Harron Homes development will affect the already-congested main road into Silsden.

Town and district councillor Adrian Naylor,has raised new concerns about the proposed demolition of an historic house on the Sykes Lane site.

He said High Bank House, although derelict and in disrepair, should instead be renovated as part of the development.

He said: “The house is in the canal conservation area and is part of the heritage of Silsden. This is an attempt to shoehorn as many houses on to the canal bank because Harron Homes can charge a premium price.”

Harron Homes this month submitted its long-awaited planning application to Bradford Council to develop the site with 51 houses of between two and five bedrooms.

Around 20 of the new homes would be along the canal side in a terrace, which the company says would offer a variety of styles to create a positive impact.

Access would be from busy Keighley Road via a strip of derelict land– lying between Albert Square and Mill Banks – which received planning permission in a separate application earlier this year.

Cllr Naylor and his Bradford Council colleague Councillor Andrew Mallinson both expressed concern about the housing development’s potential effects on Silsden’s transport infrastructure.

Local politicians believe Silsden faces unbearable pressure due to number of present and potential housing and retail developments on the Keighley Road side of town.