A SCHEME to build 152 homes on a former college site in Horsforth will be recommended for approval at a planning meeting this week.

But ward councillors in Horsforth say they are angry that the application is being considered despite a recent high court ruling on former Greenbelt sites in Leeds City Council’s Site Allocations Plan. The proposal to build 100 per cent affordable homes on the Horsforth Campus site will go before the City Plans Panel on Thursday, October 1.

Lib Dems oppose Horsforth plans

In a joint statement Councillors Dawn Collins, Jonathon Taylor and Jackie Shemilt said: “The decision to take this application to panel now is completely unacceptable. A high court judge has recently ruled that all former greenbelt sites, of which this is one, should be removed from the Council’s Site Allocations Plan and remitted back to the Secretary of State for further consideration. How then can the Council appear to ignore this and bring it forward anyway, with a recommendation for it to be approved?”

They add:”This is a major development of 152 new dwellings and residents in Horsforth should be given enough time to comment on the proposals. That is particularly the case when building homes in this location will add more traffic to the already busy Horsforth roundabout and will clearly create more congestion for local residents to contend with. There are also major concerns around availability of school places in this area and we are very worried about the possible impact this development will have on wildlife and biodiversity in this part of Horsforth.”

A report to the panel recommends approval of the affordable homes scheme from social housing provider Stonewater.

It says: “The proposed development will make a weighty contribution to meeting the identified affordable housing need. Unusually, the development is 100% affordable housing and will, therefore, contribute a very significant 152 affordable dwellings to the supply.”

It adds: “The site is not considered to fulfill an important Green Belt function - it is surrounded by major roads on two sides and on the third side the site abuts the cemetery and built up parts of Horsforth.”

The report says the site met the exceptions test for development in part of the green belt and that special circumstances existed for part of the site.