Scheme for dozens of homes on Bradford grassland wins officers’ backing

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build dozens of new homes on open grassland in Bradford has won council officers’ backing despite scores of objections.

Bradford Council wants permission to build the 45 semi-detached houses and terraces, which would include parking, on land at Parkway, West Bowling.

The local authority hopes eventually to sell the site with the planning permission.

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More than 60 people have written to the council objecting to the development and 83 people have signed a petition.

But members of the council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee will be advised to approve the outline application when they meet on Wednesday.

Critics claim the site, which is used as an informal recreation space, is “the only green area nearby with a great use of all sorts of outdoor activities by the local residents”.

They say that most of the residents in the area are elderly people who have been using the site as a dog walk area and object to the development “taking away their main outdoor activity on a daily basis”.

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Little Horton councillor Naveeda Ikram, whose ward includes the site, is against the development.

Coun Ikram said: “I have had conversations with various residents. The arguments they have put forward and the reasons for their objections are quite fair. However, being a councillor I also do understand that there is a need for affordable homes and usually the demands for housing do come within families who live within the ward where they would like to be near their family members and friends.

“But in this case I also am quite concerned that we have an over burden of need and there is less provision in the area in terms of primary school places, high school places and dentists. People with young children are struggling to get places in local primary schools – some are having to travel two miles.”

But a report for councillors states: “The density, scale, form, layout and design of the proposals are acceptable and present no concerns with regard to residential amenity and highway safety.”