Row over school site homes 'rush'

They are angry with Leeds Council, saying the authority has refused to postpone making a decision on plans to redevelop the former Leeds Girls High School site in Headingley.

The school site owner wants permission for 117 homes, leading to the loss of playing fields.

Councillors are meeting tomorrow to make a decision on the plans, which planning officers have recommended for approval.

An action group opposing the scheme has claimed that residents have been given just 21 days to lodge objections.

The chairman of the Leeds Girls High School Action Group, Pam Bone, said: "Many suspect that the short notice for this holiday time meeting is a deliberate attempt to reduce the number of objections and rush through the plans, which propose 117 dwellings, half of them flats, building on protected playing fields and felling trees around listed buildings."

A number of organisations, including the Victorian Society and Leeds Civic Trust, have objected to the plans.

Opponents say that the playing fields should be retained and that more homes will create traffic problems.

Ms Bone added: "We consider that the current proposals are inappropriate and unacceptable for such a significant and sensitive site, and fail to take account of the very real and legitimate concerns of local people for the heart of our community."

She has written to every councillor on the West Leeds Plans Panel about the action group's concerns.

"There are many reasons for the objections to these plans from over 1,250 residents, over 5500 objections in total, and I would like councillors to be fully aware of these before making any decisions."

The action group wants to ensure that the site is developed in a sensitive way and follows Government guidelines to ensure playing pitches are protected.

Local Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland has asked for the plans panel meeting to be postponed for two months so that interested parties can meet the developer "and work toward plans that will truly represent Headingley's best interests".

He said: "I have been as frustrated as everyone else at the sometimes painstakingly slow planning process for this site.

"After a lot of hard work by residents and campaigners, it is disappointing to see the final stages of this planning process now being rushed through in less than a month during the summer holidays.

"Many people don't feel that the council has gone far enough to address the concerns raised during various stages of the planning process. And now this schedule will mean that many of these people won't have time to hold the council to account.

"Headingley is facing a shortage of green spaces whilst there is a surplus of landlord-owned properties. Any development on these protected playing pitches should strive to right this imbalance, not exacerbate it.

"In order to do this, we need the school and the community to work together to find a solution that will bring about real benefits for the people of Headingley - and for that, we need more time."

Five planning applications have been submitted by the school, which merged with the Leeds Grammar School and moved to Alwoodley.

Yesterday a spokesman for Leeds Council said: "We are aware of the concerns of residents about the timing of the plans meeting this week. Councillors on the panel will be able to consider the request at their meeting on Thursday and make the decision whether to defer to a future date."