A DEVELOPER behind plans to build 116 homes on land in Bierley, Bradford, has withdrawn the application.

Worried residents had rallied against the proposals, which suggested building houses on a green area off Spen View Lane and Shetcliffe Lane.

Locals had held meetings to discuss how to object to the plans and wrote to the firm, Martin Walsh Residential of Dewsbury, raising their concerns.

Now they have been sent a letter by Bradford Council notifying them that the application has been withdrawn.

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The letter said: “I am writing to inform you that the application was withdrawn on 19 January 2017, at the applicant’s request.

“Please note that the applicant has the right to resubmit his proposal within 12 months of the making of the earlier one without incurring a further planning fee.

“Any such application will be similarly publicised, however should this happen I would ask you to make your representations again, if you wish, as I cannot transfer objections from one application to another.”

Taras Stefanyszyn, who lives on Spen View Lane and was opposed to the plans, said residents were happy with the news, but wary.

“We are pleased but also wary, because there is the thing of why they have done it,” he said. “That is what we are trying to get to the bottom of.

“Rumours are they are trying to landfill it, but it is only a rumour.”

He said: “At the moment, it is good news. They can re-submit within 12 months without any extra cost - but that also means that we can get more organised if it does come back up.”

Campaigner Wylie Connor, a retired architect, said previously on the proposed development: “We received a small scale plan and a leaflet giving an indication of a proposed development on what used to be green belt.

“It was regarded as safeguarded land. We all knew it was safeguarded land.

“We didn’t expect them to try and squeeze 116 houses on it - it is very tight.

“They are trying to find out what everyone thinks, and no doubt make some adjustments.

“I was expecting the plans, but a lot of residents were not.

“About one and a half years ago I heard a rumour that this land was going to be developed by a housing developer.”

Mr Stefanyszyn has said: “There is no need for it round here. We have got empty houses just up the road that the Council had to buy off a developer.”

The Telegraph & Argus contacted Martin Walsh Residential and asked why the application had been withdrawn, but it did not respond.

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