CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a new 82 home development on a plot of land encroaching the Green Belt have been approved by Bradford Council.

The application’s success means work can begin on the new housing estate in land off Spen View Lane in Bierley.

Lockwood Farm had bene earmarked for housing previously prompting strong local opposition, with voices against this development failing in their bid to block the new homes.

The approval of this plan comes almost a year after plans for 67 homes on land directly south were rejected as part of the site encroached on the Green Belt.

The 82 properties on the approved site will be made up of 25 two-bedroom and 57 three-bedroom family homes, which developer Countryside Properties PLC said will be “100 per cent affordable”.

It also added the section of the development which encroaches onto the Green Belt will be kept as an area of public open space, intersected by a cycle path.

In the plans, it said: “The development at Lockwood Farm, Spen View Lane, Bierley will provide an attractive, high quality designed area to live.

“The scale and character of the proposals will ensure that the scheme will contribute to and enhance the immediate and surrounding area.

“The careful consideration of the structure, massing, streetscape, landscaping and materials ensures that the development is in context with the adjacent area creating an attractive, distinctive and aspirational scheme.”

The bulk of the development will be accessed via Shetcliffe Lane, with a small number of homes accessed directly from Spen View Lane.

More than 60 objections were made by nearby residents against the plans, with concerns over the road infrastructure “not being able to cope now, never mind with 80 more homes”, the impact of loss of green space on the environment and wildlife.

There were also fears about schools, doctors and dentists being over-subscribed with 80 families moving into the area.

Not a single comment made by the public on the development was in support of the plans.

However, despite the concerns and fury from local people, Bradford Council has approved the plans, subject to a Section 106 agreement.

Developer Countryside Properties has been told it must begin work within three years and all work must be done exactly to the specifications in approved documents in the planning application.

They were told before anyone can move into the development all roads and off-street parking must be surfaces and sealed, and the cycleway must be completed before the 50th residents move in.

During construction work, all vehicles must have their wheels cleaned to keep mud off the roads, and no construction work can begin until measures to protect public water supply are in place.

Every home must be fitted with an outdoor plug socket to enable electric vehicle charging, and before anyone moves in a landscape plan and long-term maintenance schedule must be put in place.