Go-ahead call for homes project on former cannon testing site

DEVELOPERS hoping to build more than 200 homes on the site of important Second World War defensive structures look set to be granted planning permission.

Redrow Homes Yorkshire has applied for planning permission for 220 homes, access roads, cycle ways and open space on land to the north west of 51 Parkway at Steeton with Eastburn, between Skipton and Keighley.

The development will include three-storey apartments as well as semi-detached and detached homes.

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The site is made up of a number of fields to the back of properties on the north side of Halsteads Way.

Bradford Council planners are urging councillors to grant the developer planning permission.

The developer has been told that it needs to come up with a plan to preserve the wartime structures.

A council report says the site used to be a cannon testing range associated with the former Royal Ordnance factory to the north of the site.

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Remnants of the site are still visible, including a pillbox sites in a field and two fire posts (also known as police or guard posts) – one sited in the south west and one in the south east part of the site.

All three wartime structures are protected by Grade II listing status.

The council report says the listed structures should be protected.

“The listed structures within the application site are important surviving examples of World War Two defensive structures.

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“The proposals show the listed structures within areas of open space.

“At the moment no information has been given about how these structures will be protected during construction or how the landscape finish in the immediate areas about the structures will be dealt with. These details should be provided and agreed to prior to development commencing.”

A maintenance and management strategy “must be drawn up and agreed to ensure the future security” of the wartime buildings.

Some kind of interpretation of the buildings would also be welcome, though this should be sensitively located and subject to agreement before work begins, says the council.

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The report, which is due to be discussed by members of the Keighley area planning panel on Thursday this week, concludes that planning permission should be granted – despite many objections.

More than 100 individual letters of objection were received by the council.

Local residents believe that an extra 220 homes will create “gridlock” on the estate.

They also argued that Steeton has already “given up” a considerable amount of land for housing and that local services will struggle to cope with the extra population.

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But planners have concluded that the development is acceptable in principle.

Their report concludes: “The development of this site with a well conceived residential scheme which offers a suitable mix of properties across the site proposes efficient and effective use of land and is considered a good opportunity to provide a sustainable pattern of housing development within the existing urban fabric of Steeton.

“The effect of the proposal on the adjoining conservation area, the listed structures within the site, the surrounding locality and the adjacent neighbouring properties has been assessed and is acceptable.

“The provision of an access, both from Skipton Road into Thornhill Road and from Thornhill Road into the development site, is the manner and location proposed is appropriate.”

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If the plans get the go ahead, the developer will be expected to contribute £358,000 to help increase educational facilities in the area, provide 55 discounted/affordable homes and pay £30,000 towards new or upgraded play areas in the neighbourhood.

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