A BLUEPRINT for the future of Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads has been unveiled.

The three villages’ joint parish council has published a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) outlining its vision for the next 11 years.

Parish councillors have devised more than 30 new planning policies following four years of consultation with residents.

The intention is that these policies will influence key decision-makers such as Bradford Council as well as developers hoping to build houses across the rural parish.

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As well as sites, density and mix of housing, the 150-page NDP covers issues such as local conservation and heritage areas, green space, community facilities, employment and tourism, public transport and car parking.

Key issues include high-speed broadband, drop-off areas outside schools, visitor accommodation, and improvements for walkers, horse riders and cyclists.

The document looks in detail at individual parts of each village, such as Sugden End, Brow Moor, Baden Street, Haworth Brow, Coldshaw, Murgatroyd, Ebor Mills, Lees Lane and Worsted Road.

The policies recognise that our settlements need to continue to be separated by open green spaces to protect the individual character of each, and that new development should remain consistent in character, scale and density with the traditional housing stock" - parih council chairman David Mahon and NDP steering group chairman Tito Arana

The Neighbourhood Developing Plan submission plan was this month sent to Bradford Council, and if it is approved by City Hall there will be referendum among local residents to decide whether it should be officially adopted.

In a joint statement, parish council chairman David Mahon and NDP steering group chairman Tito Arana highlighted the “distinctive character” of each village.

They said: “Haworth with its association with the Bronte family, and also the Worth Valley Railway, has become a significant tourist attraction and needs to retain its historic charm.

“Cross Roads with Lees is probably the oldest inhabited part of the Worth Valley – its ancient roots and mill and village character need equally to be recognised and retained.

“Stanbury, a traditional South Pennine hilltop village, has its own unique rural attractions.”

The two councillors said the NDP was a new and exciting way for communities to shape the future of the area they lived in, drawing on Government policies to give residents more say.

Councillors Mahon and Arana said the NDP’s new planning policies covered areas where future housing development was considered possible. They said that since 200 new houses had been granted permission in the parish since 2009, they hoped only another 200 houses will be needed over the next 12 years.

They added: “The policies recognise that our settlements need to continue to be separated by open green spaces to protect the individual character of each, and that new development should remain consistent in character, scale and density with the traditional housing stock.

“The policies explore a whole range of current and possible future biodiversity, community, economic, environmental, housing, infrastructure, landscape, transport and traffic matters.”

The councillors admitted that Bradford Council would implement the planning policies.

But they added: “The parish council’s task is to police that implementation and to lead on many of the non-planning actions, alongside other key partners and stakeholders.”

The NDP said Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads today rested “full square on the communities of yesteryear”.

It added: “Much of today’s population live in housing built for mill workers and mill owners. Many mill buildings accommodate modern businesses or house local people.

“One of the key priorities is the conservation of this built heritage which so firmly underpins present-day life. Throughout the plan is the determination to ensure all new development – whether desired or simply received – is in keeping with the best of the development that has gone before.”

Visit haworthcrossroadsstanburyndp.org.uk and click on Submission to read the Neighbourhood Development Plan 2019-2030.