SCORES of objections have been left in response to plans for a development of eight new apartments in Shipley.

Proposals for the two and three-storey development have been lodged by Oak Tree Developments for land at Springhurst Road, off Bradford Road.

The land is next to the former synagogue site. The place of worship closed its doors back in 2013.

According to the application, the development on that piece of land, which includes two and three-bedroom houses and apartments, is now complete.

The latest plans are aimed at “providing private housing for both first-time buyers and also for those wishing to move down in the housing market”.

But nearly 260 objections have been left on the online planning application.

The Friends of Northcliffe Park had been encouraging people to lodge objections, saying the development will have a negative impact on the character and quality of the area and on neighbouring habitat in Northcliffe and Old Spring Meadow Woods.

The group also raised concern about increased traffic and pollution and reduction of green space.

Leaving his objection, Councillor Kevin Warnes (Green, Shipley) has asked the application to be referred to the Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel, in the event of it being recommended by officers for approval, to give residents a chance to express their views in person.

He said the development would be “completely out of character and scale for this site and not in keeping with the surrounding area”.

Cllr Warnes described the proposed development as being “unimaginative, low quality”, seeking to “cram housing and car parking spaces into an area that is on a slope with limited access”. He also raised concerns about additional strain on infrastructure and said: “Environmentally, this development is as reckless and irresponsible as most of unsustainable, profit-driven, poorly-regulated housing developments that we see across the UK”.

The Coal Authority has said it has “substantive concern” over the plans, as the application falls “within the defined Development High Risk Area”.

It says while the application is accompanied by a ‘Phase 2 Site Investigation & Geo Environmental Appraisal Report’, “the Coal Authority does not consider this adequately addresses the impact of coal mining legacy on the proposed development. The Coal Authority therefore objects to the proposal”.

The authority said further specialist investigation is required.

While many objection comments have been left, some people indicated their support for the proposal. Helen Kane, of Charles Court, Shipley, said: “With such a shortage of accommodation in the area I think this build should go ahead.”