Bradford councillors advised to approve controversial plan

Back in May, Crossflatts Cricket Club, Bingley, spoke of its anger and frustration at how the application has been handled by Bradford Council.

Despite planning permission being quashed in December 2021 following a judicial review, work on the homes continued.

Read the history of the application here: Crossflatts Cricket Club's fury over houses planning saga

The planning application will now go back before a meeting of the Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel for consideration.

A report to councillors says more than 130 objection comments have been left, with concerns raised about the proximity of the houses to the cricket field; danger from stray balls; loss of light and parking for the cricket club; construction continuing despite the quashing of planning permission and the fact that Sport England objects to the plan.

Comments in support of the plan say the site has been “abandoned for a number of years”, that development is good for the local economy and there is a shortage of houses in the area.

“Planning permission for the development was quashed following judicial review,” says the report.

“The application therefore must be re-determined. The Council accepted that the decision to grant planning permission provided legally inadequate reasons for departing from the expert advice received from Sports England in relation to the risk of ball strike.”

It adds: “The application for determination is on the same plot of land that was granted permission in 2018 and there has not been a significant change in the physical appearance of the site in the intervening years to the present.

“The principle of residential development of this site has, therefore been established.”

It says “any adverse impacts of granting permission must significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of granting permission”.

The report says work has continued following the quashing of the decision and while the homes comply with the submitted plans, they do not benefit from planning permission.

The report says the proposal would make a “positive contribution to housing land supply at a time when the Council is unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land”.

It adds: “The development introduces houses close to the boundary of the cricket field. The potential risk of ball strike has been mitigated through the erection of safety netting that is in accordance with Sports England’s requirement.

“The impact on the cricket club has been considered as has the potential conflict of the use of the cricket club on the houses.”

The application will be discussed on Wednesday, July 13 in the Council Chamber at City Hall from 10am.