THE chair of a planning committee has criticised a developer for withdrawing a controversial housing scheme at the last minute.

Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee were due to discuss plans to build 100 houses off Goose Cote Lane in Oakworth, by GCL Developments, at its meeting yesterday morning.

The plans for the greenbelt site had proved hugely controversial, with hundreds of people objecting and planning officers recommending that committee refuse the scheme.

A number of objectors had planned to attend the meeting, and a coach had been hired to take them from Oakworth to Bradford City Hall to hear the debate and speak against the plans.

Councillors advised to refuse plans for 100 homes on Greenbelt land

On Wednesday afternoon the application was withdrawn by the applicants.

At the meeting, officers said because the plans had been withdrawn, they would not be discussed.

Chair Councillor David Warburton (Lab, Wyke) said: “I am concerned at the timing of when this was withdrawn. I apologise to anyone who came here today to hear about this application. We did try to notify people as soon as we possibly could. It is disappointing that the applicants or their agents didn’t have the courtesy to attend this meeting to apologise.”