THE owners of land in Eastburn, which Bradford Council wants kept undeveloped for the next 15 years, took their battle to a public inquiry on Tuesday.

Peter and Jean Lloyd, of Greenfield Farm, objected to the designation of their property as "safeguarded land" in the council's unitary development plan (UDP).

A six-month public inquiry into the plan, which will address 7,000 such objections, is being held in Saltaire.

Planning inspector Philip Asquith heard that the land bordered an existing development on Sycamore Grove, and was intended to be used as "phase two" of the estate.

But the council wants to safeguard the land for the next 15 years to ensure there will be available housing sites in the area at that time.

The 0.36 hectares of land - enough for about eight houses - has been included in a much larger area, which has been designated safeguarded land.

Representations will also be heard in respect of the other part of the site, which includes two fields.

The Lloyds claim these were never intended as part of the Sycamore Grove development, and are too steep to develop. They say the council was wrong to put the three fields together.

Mrs Lloyd said: "This development started three years ago, and the builder was always going to come into our part of the field."

Representing Bradford Council, Mark Hutchinson said that the council did not consider the land suitable for housing development in the next 15 years because of the existing infrastructure of the parish. He said that the land already designated for housing was sufficient to meet projected needs.

"Based on housing supply needs and projected population figures, we, as a council, feel there is sufficient housing allocated in the plan to meet projected needs," he said.

But the Lloyds contend that the village needs more homes.

"If you think for one minute there is no need for housing in Steeton and Eastburn, you are wrong," Mr Lloyd said. "Look at the development that has taken place in the last six months at the Kildwick roundabout industrial estate - that is going up like nobody's business. That's going to bring employment into the area."

Mrs Lloyd argued that the village offered more employment than neighbouring Keighley.

"There's so much employment around us, it's unbelievable," she said. "There's 1,000 people employed at the hospital, there is Landis Lund, there is an enormous estate at Cross Hills. I would say there is more work here than in Keighley."

Mr Hutchinson disagreed. He said that the council would not consider siting more houses there because employment opportunities were limited, public transport was inadequate and people had to travel elsewhere for retail or leisure facilities.

"The range of employment available at Steeton is limited. It certainly doesn't provide the degree or number of jobs that are available elsewhere in the district," he said.

"Similarly, with retail provision - there is little immediate availability. There is a general store, a post office and a fish and chip shop. If you want anything beyond that you have got to go to Cross Hills, Skipton or Keighley."

Another patch of land near Airedale Hospital had been designated for houses because of its proximity to the train station.

Mr Hutchinson added the council wanted to encourage people to use public transport and walk to work and school. He said they could not easily do this now but it might be a different story in 15 years' time.

Mr Asquith agreed to visit the site, and his conclusions will be published along with all the other recommendations at the end of the inquiry.