Campaigners rally to fight blueprint homes plan on historic estate

Leeds City Council is consulting residents on the Site Allocations Plan (SAP), which will form the blueprint for development in the city for the next decade once formally adopted by the authority in winter. The SAP has identified at least 1,850 homes to be built in a stand-alone settlement on the Parlington estate, between Aberford and Barwick-in-Elmet, in the city’s Outer North East area.

It comes after the homes were recommended on land near Headley Hall, Bramham, before those plans were abandoned in the SAP.

The Save Parlington group’s chairwoman, Adrienne Sykes, said: “People are absolutely devastated about the plans. Parlington has history and a unique heritage, it has ancient woodlands and walking groups travel to the estate.”

The campaign group has been backed by Elmet and Rothwell MP Alec Shelbrooke, and local ward councillors whose constituents may be affected.

Coun Richard Lewis, the council’s executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said the authority sought to use brownfield land, but must ensure future housing demand is met.

In the latest consultation, which closed at the weekend, Mrs Sykes said at least 4,000 letters of objection had been submitted against the estate plans.

The campaign group lodged more than 3,000 objection letters during the first consultation process.

The SAP will now be examined by a planning inspector before a report is prepared and the proposals are officially adopted towards the end of 2017.