Applicant set to submit plans for 115 Haworth village homes (From Keighley News)

Applicant set to submit plans for 115 Haworth village homes

9:00am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

A businessman says plans to build more than 100 new homes in Haworth should be submitted next week.

Pervez Abbas said he had intended the application for Weavers Hill to be submitted to Bradford Council last week. But he said the proposals were delayed by last minute changes, which included reducing the number of planned homes from 120 to 115.

He has previously said if the first phase is successful, he plans to apply to build another 200 homes on the same greenfield site. He argued the development would provide £500,000 to support community and education facilities through a section 106 contribution paid to the council.

However, opposition to the plans has been growing, with critics including residents, the Bronte Society and local councillors.

A statement released by Haworth Parish Church said it supported “viable and sympathetic” development in the parish and recognised the need to provide more housing.

But it added: “Such developments should respect an environment that attracts many thousands of visitors to the area each year, as well as still providing a classic example of a south Pennine hill village.

“We do not support the introduction of large-scale developments on greenfield sites in and around the village.

“Bradford Council is currently compiling a new district plan and Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council is in the early stages of developing a Neighbourhood Development Plan as part of the provisions of the Localism Act. These two documents are considering what land is available for development in the village and both have an element of community involvement and consultation.

“We as a church believe both these documents should be produced before any further major development plans are presented for planning consent.”

l District councillors will today examine an amended full planning application to build 38 houses on a separate greenfield site in Haworth.

The application for land south of Lees Mill, Shuttle Fold, will be considered by Bradford Council’s regulatory and appeals committee.

Keighley Area Planning Panel granted planning permission for 38 homes on the land in February.

The latest proposal is asking for minor changes to that decision. The alterations comprise a small reduction to the size of the site. The proposals have been recommended for approval, subject to the applicant contributing £65,250 towards local education facilities and £21,463 to enhance recreation provision.