A MAJOR housing development that has led to hundreds of objections is likely to be refused over concerns it could cause floods in the surrounding area.

Alcuin Homes hopes to build 150 homes on a field of Leaventhorpe Lane, off Thornton Road, with 100 of the houses being classed as affordable.

Revealed earlier this year, the plans have been criticised by hundreds of residents, local councillors, a Bradford MP and even the Friends of Bradford Beck.

Over 190 people have objected to the proposals, and a petition calling for the scheme to be scrapped has been signed by 264 people.

On Thursday Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee will decide on the application, and planning officers have recommended they be refused because part of the site is in a “flood zone” and officers fear building on the site could lead to nearby homes flooding.

Part of the access to the site will be over a beck, Pitty Beck, and the application includes a road over the waterway show raised up to 3½ metres above the existing ground level.

But council officers have raised issues over flooding on the site with the applicants, and members of the planning committee will be told that these issues have not yet been addressed.

The report says: “The applicant has been afforded every opportunity to submit an acceptable flood alleviation scheme. Requests were made by the applicant for further meetings to discuss each submission made with regards to the flood alleviation scheme but each time a detailed written response was provided to explain why each submission was not acceptable and it was felt that a further meeting was not necessary.

“Based on the latest information submitted by the applicant it is considered that in its current form the proposal will result in potential flooding issues on adjacent land and dwellings outside the application site.”

Flooding risk is the only reason the plans have been recommended for refusal.

The Aire Rivers Trust and Friends of Bradford Beck have also raised concerns over flooding.

A letter from Barney Lerner, chair of the Becks group, said: “The wildlife corridor along Pitty Beck will be severely damaged by the access road to the development.”

They add: “The developers appear to have underestimated the severity of flooding in this area” and give examples of when the site has previously flooded.

The company’s application said the plans would provide much needed affordable housing in Bradford. It adds: “It has also been noted that Bradford Council does not currently have a five year housing land supply, and it is therefore likely that a number of green field residential developments on the edge of the settlement

will need to be permitted in order to meet housing need.

“Whilst this does not mean that this site will be developed in the future, it does increase the probability of such a development.”

Objections from residents range from complaining over the loss of a green field, to extra traffic to fears the new estate would merge the villages of Clayton and Thornton.

Other objectors questioned whether the people of Bradford would be able to afford the homes in a time of austerity.

Bradford West MP Naz Shah has written to the Council and says: “I am writing on behalf of a considerable number of my constituents who have contacted my office with serious concerns about the proposed development.

“The proposed construction of 150 houses raises many concerns. Principally these are the increased flood risk and and danger of sewage contamination.”

The letter says she wants the Council to register her objection.

Protest Group Keep the Green In Fairweather Green has sent numerous photos to the council detailing previous floods. They add: “The entire area being used to access the site floods on a three to five year basis. This is not standing water it is deep and fast flowing.”

The report recommends the application be refused, saying: “The northern part of the application site is located within a flood zone.

“The access to the proposed development will be located within the identified flood zone and it is not considered that an acceptable flood alleviation scheme has been submitted which will show how the proposed development will not result in localised flooding on land adjacent to and outside the application site.”

The committee meets in City Hall at 10am on Thursday.