THE development of Horsforth Campus has been accepted in principle at a plans panel in Leeds yesterday.

But officers and the developer have been told to redesign the 152 affordable homes plan for the green belt site, which will then be resubmitted to Leeds City Council's City Plans Panel.

The scheme was opposed by Liberal Democrats and Conservatives who say it will have a substantial impact on the local greenbelt, roads and infrastructure.

After the decision Horsforth Liberal Democrat town councillor Simon Dowling said: "This is a shame that it has passed and seems as though Leeds Labour are happy to see development on green belt sites.

"The Plans panel agreed that the design and architecture of the site is appalling and this was the major reason for not granting permission today.

"The liberal democrats locally now will continue to fight development of any green belt site in the local area including Horsforth Campus."

Conservative ward councillor Jonathon Taylor tweeted: "Disappointing that the Plans Panel today voted to accept the principle of development on the Old College, despite us raising serious highways and school places concerns, as well as the potential ramifications of other Greenbelt sites take out of the Site Allocation Plan by the Courts.

"A proposal to reject this application, which was our ask in our contribution at the start of the meeting, was supported by Conservative and Green Party members but voted down by Labour.

"The majority on the Panel instead voted that the developer and Council Officers need to rework the site layout and the design of the units but the number and locations is unfortunately agreed. While this is on the cards we will work to get better quality and sized accommodation, determine how the Council intend to fix the Highways issues and maintain our pressure for adequate school place provision.

"We remain unhappy at the manner in which this application was brought and the apparent view that Leeds City Council believes it can pick any land it wants to develop, regardless of if it is in the Site Allocation plan."

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

It said: “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 added: “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 said: "The site delivers 100% affordable housing in an area where such housing is in short supply and Stonewater intend to complete the development as soon as possible. Officers do not consider that of itself, this would amount to very special circumstances. Given, however that the scheme would deliver 100% of the dwellings as affordable homes in an area of acknowledged shortfall of such, the development could be seen to contribute towards a case for very special circumstances."

The report concluded: "In the light of the above it is considered that the development meets the necessary exceptions test for development in the green belt set out in the NPPF and that for the grassland – pumping station only - part of the site very special circumstances exist. The application is otherwise fully policy compliant and with regard to provision of affordable housing, the scheme delivers significantly above policy requirements.The development is considered acceptable in all other respects and approval is recommended."