TWO housing developments that would see over 160 new homes built in Menston will go before a planning committee tomorrow.

And approval of the plans could be on the condition that the developer pays towards major improvements to Menston Rail Station and the village Main Street.

In 2013 a planning application for over 170 homes on fields to the South of Moor Lane was approved by Bradford Council.

However, work never started, and that permission has now lapsed.

At a meeting of the Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee, being held remotely tomorrow, members will be asked to decide on two new separate planning applications on different parts of the same site.

Support for crossing plan at Menston school

One application, by Yorkshire Housing, is for 114 affordable houses with access off Moor Lane.

Objections to this plan have been received from 190 people, including two local Councillors and the local MP.

The other application is by Stonebridge Homes and Greenlight Developments, and is for 47 houses on the neighbouring plot of land.

Access to these homes will be off Derry Hill.

The Council had received 163 objections to this plan, including from two Councillors and the local MP.

Reports to members of the committee recommend that both applications are approved at Thursday's meeting.

Planning officers point out that despite the objections, the site had previously been allocated for housing by Bradford Council.

The report says: "The Council has not provided a five year housing land supply and it is acknowledged that formerly allocated sites would make a substantive contribution to increasing the housing land supply, reducing pressure on unallocated greenfield sites and the Green Belt."

The report also suggests numerous conditions if the plans are approved, some of which include significant funding for projects in Menston.

For the Yorkshire Housing scheme suggested conditions include

- £106,500 towards improvements at Menston Rail Station - providing lifts to connect the platforms

- £50,000 for drainage works

- £21,188 towards the provision of zebra crossing facility and associated footway widening

on Main Street

- £4328 towards signage for increasing the 20 mph zone between the site and Main Street

- £7500 for a Traffic Regulation Order to control parking on Moor Lane

- £10,000 towards the installation of a real time information display at the bus stop on St Peters Way

For the Derry Hill plans, the conditions include

- That 14 houses on the site are classed as "affordable"

- £43,500 towards the improvements at Menston station

- £7,500 towards a traffic order to prevent parking on Derry Hill

- £8,813 towards the Main Street improvements

Plans for housing on the site have proved to be hugely controversial in the past.

After the first set of plans were passed, residents attempted to get the site classed as a village green. However, after a week long inquiry in 2012 that bid was declined.

Objections to the latest application say the houses will increase flooding in the village, lead to a loss of a green field site and put added pressure on limited facilities in Menston.

The committee meets online starting at 10am. The meeting can be viewed by visiting https://bradford.public-i.tv/core/portal/home