A COURT battle between two councils over land for homes in South Craven has been dropped.

Bradford Council was gearing up to take the planning department of Craven District Council to court claiming the area had not taken its fair share of land earmarked for houses.

But councillors voted this week to drop the threat for a number of reasons, including the fact that they could be faced with a huge legal bill.

The possible challenge in the courts stems from Craven District Council's planning blueprint, the Craven Local Plan, which decides what areas of land should be used for in the future.

As part of the process to determine the final plan, a public inquiry was held and a Government planning inspector made recommendations regarding disputed pieces of land.

Craven District Council did not have to accept these recommendations, and indeed it threw out suggestions for parts of Sutton, Glusburn and Cross Hills.

This sparked the threat of a legal challenge from neighbouring Bradford.

Craven councillors feared that South Craven could eventually be merged into Bradford and fought hard to keep its separate identity.

A report to members of Bradford's transportation and planning committee on Monday asked them to officially drop the threat of court action.

"Although counsel's opinion suggested that a legal challenge was likely to be successful, there were a number of other considerations to be taken into account before this course of action was pursued," said the report.

Factors included the cost of the legal challenge, the refusal of the Government Office for Yorkshire to intervene in the case, and damaging the good working relationship between the two councils.

Instead, Bradford Council is to keep a close eye on South Craven planning applications.

Sutton councillor Steve Place, who helped fight the battle for South Craven, said the area was "safe" for at least the next six years when a new local plan would be produced.

"In a few years' time the battle will begin again in earnest and I don't think we've seen the last of Bradford," he said.

"I hope we get the same degree of support from our planning department, but this time we will be a lot more aware.

"But it's great to know that we can defend our area against the large sticks being wielded against us."

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