Developer launches new fight over controversial Wilsden homes scheme (From Keighley News)

Developer launches new fight over controversial Wilsden homes scheme

8:30am Monday 28th January 2013 in News By Chris Young

A developer has decided to fight its battle to build a housing estate in Wilsden on two fronts, with a new planning application and appeal at the same time.

Harron Homes wants to build on a field off Crack Lane, but Bradford Council refused its application for 73 houses there last year.

Shortly before Christmas, the company launched an appeal against that decision, and now it has revealed a second planning application, this time for 82 houses on the same site. One local councillor said he was “appalled” on hearing the news.

No date has been set for the appeal, but Bradford Council’s regulatory and appeals committee will discuss it today. It will be asked to drop one of the main reasons for originally refusing the plans – that it could cause flooding risk.

When refused in April last year, councillors felt the estate could lead to torrents of surface water, leading to localised flooding.

But the authority’s drainage services has since asked for this reason for refusal not to be mentioned in the upcoming appeal because it could prove costly were the council to lose. If successful, Harron could claim costs from the authority.

Instead, the committee will be encouraged to fight the appeal on the other two concerns – loss of parking and sustainability.

The committee meets at City Hall in Bradford at 10am.

Tony Caunt, who sits on the parish council, was surprised to hear Harron Homes was submitting new plans for an even larger estate.

He said: “I’m rather taken aback and a bit appalled.

“We were expecting them to come back and maybe reduce the number of houses to a more realistic figure, not increase them.”

He is also disappointed regarding Bradford Council’s stance on the flooding issue, adding: “We think the issue of surface water is a prime reason for refusal on that parcel of land.”

The parish council will discuss the latest application at a meeting on February 4. People have until February 5 to comment on the bid.