Homes in Haworth and East Morton are approved (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Homes in Haworth and East Morton are approved

9:10am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in Bradford By Miran Rahman

Proposals to build 38 homes on a field in Haworth were passed by councillors yesterday.

Bradford Council’s Keighley Area Planning Panel agreed to give permission to Skipton Properties to build on land south of Lees Mill, Shuttle Fold.

Planning officers had recommended the application be approved, but 34 people objected.

Speaking as an objector at the panel’s meeting, Andy Quarmby said: “This application shows no understanding of the semi-rural nature of this area.

“This field has a real value as it stands and no amount of extra funding will get that back when it’s gone.”

Applicant’s agent Jo Steel responded that none of the statutory bodies the planners had consulted had objected to the scheme.

He added the development would contribute to a need for affordable housing.

In the subsequent vote the panel passed the proposals by four votes in favour to one against.

• The panel also gave permission to plans to build 12 homes in East Morton.

The application for land at Fieldhead House, Highfield Close, had previously been approved but had to go back to the panel after an error by the Council led to the permission being overturned at a judicial review.

The judge struck down the decision, made by the panel last year, because the application did not include an environmental impact assessment screening opinion and no reason for granting permission was given.

Yesterday, objector Edward Batley said there was dangerously poor visibility at the site’s entrance and raised the potential impact of another 24 cars using the cul-de-sac.

“The residents around there are not adopting a ‘not in my back yard’ policy and think this should be a more tolerable development of five houses,” he said.

However, the panel decided to accept the application, with three councillors voting in favour and two against.