Rhubarb triangle land could be lost to housing

A review by Wakefield Council of its green belt land proposes that four areas of the famed rhubarb growing area be given over to development to cope with the need for more houses.

The Green Belt Review document suggests that approximately 13 hectares of land around the Wrenthorpe and Outwood areas of Wakefield could be used for housing.

The news comes just a few months after Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb was awarded the same legal protection as champagne and parma ham when it was awarded Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status by the European Union.

The areas under consideration are well inside the so-called triangle, which lies between Wakefield, Morley and Leeds, but the council Green Belt Review document states the sites and adjoining land "is not of any particular ecological significance".

A Wakefield Council spokeswoman said the review was carried out by experienced officers with good local knowledge, and that the consideration of all the sites was carried out with the landowner's consent.

But Wrenthorpe Community Association director Jon Rigby said the study had not been carried out with sufficient regard to the heritage of the area and the "exceptional circumstances test" – which determines whether or not green belt land can be developed – has not been met.

"The document states that the sites are not important", he said. "This clearly is not correct as two of the Wrenthorpe sites are currently used as rhubarb fields and all sites are within the Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle. Wakefield Council has worked very hard with other West Yorkshire agencies and Defra to achieve Protected Designated Origin for the Rhubarb Triangle, which was granted on the 25th February 2010."

He added that the council uses rhubarb to promote tourism in some of its brochures.

Annemarie Glover, shadow portfolio holder for communities and one of the area's ward councillors, said: "I have been shocked to find out part of the Rhubarb Triangle included and do not think it should be taken into consideration for development.

"A lot of people have been concerned about this."

Wakefield Council was actively involved in the campaign to give Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb PDO status and helps to organise an annual Festival of Food Drink and Rhubarb each year, an event which attracts strong audience numbers and high-profile guests.

A council spokeswoman said: "There is an urgent need to provide a significant number of new homes, including affordable homes and new job opportunities in the district for citizens. Despite this only one per cent of the land in the district is proposed to be removed from the green belt, 69 per cent of the district will remain green belt.

"Removing land from the green belt is only considered when there are exceptional circumstances and there is no alternative land available within towns. The decision to propose to remove some land from the green belt has been informed by a green belt review.

"It is recognised that some of the proposed sites are within the Rhubarb Triangle. The current use of the land has been taken into account in considering which land to propose for housing. Only one of the sites referred to in the enquiry is currently planted with rhubarb, the rest are under other arable cultivation or fallow. It is important to appreciate that all the sites have been put forward by the landowners as sites to be considered for development."

The spokeswoman also emphasised that the proposals are not finalised and all comments received through the consultation will be considered before it submits its plans to government for independent examination.