THE 550-plus homes being proposed for land east of Otley should all be built to new energy-efficiency standards.

That is the demand being made by ward councillors following the Chancellor’s announcement about the Government’s Future Homes Standard.

Philip Hammond MP has outlined proposals, to be introduced by 2025, to ensure that all new homes are built to a quality that means they would not need fossil-fuel based heating systems.

Councillors Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Sandy Lay (all Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) have welcomed the news - and are asking Leeds City Council to ensure the new standard is applied when it comes to east of Otley.

In an e-mail to the council’s Director of Planning, they said: “(We) fully support the principle...that the Government is committed to a Future Homes Standard set to ensure all new homes are built without fossil fuel heating, and to a ‘world-leading’ energy efficiency standard, by 2025.

“We would therefore ask that the council, when drawing up the planning brief for the proposed East of Otley development, take this into account.

“We would request that they include within the brief a recognition that the development will cross the 2025 date and therefore ensure no part of the site includes what will be sub-standard homes, and to ensure that all properties meet the new Future Homes standard.”

Cllr Downes said: “In Otley we want the new standard introduced as soon as possible with the housing development east of Otley as a great area to start.

“We are asking that no sub-standard housing be built on the site and so have written to the Director of Planning, who is drawing up a development brief, asking for the new insulation energy standards to cover the whole area.”

A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said: “We are already seeking to improve spaces standards within new homes as part of the work on the Core Strategy Selective Review. Our draft policy around this area is currently under independent inspection and we are awaiting final feedback prior to making it available for consultation and then introducing it across the district, including the site in Otley.

“We will continue to work with a number of agencies including the Neighbourhood Planning Group to ensure that this development meets a range of planning requirements including design quality.”