'Release land for housing' appeal

Representatives for Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd argued the case at the inquiry into the future of a 13-hectare site in Simpson Green, Apperley Road, Apperley Bridge.

The company wants the land, currently open grazing space, to be released for a development that could contain between 270 and 450 homes.

Michael Courcier, of Michael Courcier and Partners Town Planning and Development consultants, told the inquiry that an argument that the site should not be developed because it was part of a view seen from long distances - with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to the north and the east - should not apply.

Mr Courcier argued the site would not create a precedent for further developments and so did not consider it would contribute to urban sprawl as it had discernible boundaries.

When Martin Carter, representing Bradford Council, questioned Mr Courcier on what the exceptional circumstance was which meant the site could be exempt from green belt policy, he replied it was its sustainability qualities.

The inquiry heard from Christopher Dallas, of Bryan G Hall Consulting Civil and Transportation Planning Engineers, that the site would be sustainable in relation to public transport. He said it would be served by a bus service about every half-an-hour and would be near to the proposed new Apperley train station.

When asked by Mr Carter about access, he said the proposed development could be served by a single point of access.

l Land in Bradford Road, Crossflatts, should be allocated for employment, despite not being marked as such on the proposed replacement Unitary Development Plan, according to Tom Walton, of Bradford Council's planning department. He told the inquiry he was surprised the land was not marked for employment use and the change should be recommended.

Mervyn Lister, representing landowner George Jowett, of Otley, agreed the land should not be in the green belt.