MAJOR housing developers should be forced to use local labour and materials, says a local councillor.

Bradford councillor Andrew Mallinson believes companies operating in his Craven ward should be made to sign written agreements before being given planning permission.

He spoke amidst the ongoing building of hundreds of houses by major housing developers in Silsden, Steeton and Eastburn.

He said: “Some companies roll in from Manchester and Liverpool with their own materials, men and vehicles.

“These schemes go to planning committee with not enough emphasis put on getting developers to use local builders, local contractors, tradespeople and suppliers.

“There are as many as 200 houses in each development, they’re not insignificant. Companies of that size have an ethical responsibility to use local tradesmen."

Cllr Mallinson believes Bradford Council, which oversees the planning process, should apply the same process as it does with major retail developments.

He said: “With supermarkets and shopping centres we insist that there’s a written contract with the companies. They are set targets for the number of apprentices, female workers and local materials.

“It’s about having a conversation at the beginning of the planning process. I think Bradford are missing a trick.”

Cllr Mallinson said that as well as the major developers, there were a number of small builders in the Craven area building a handful of houses on each site.

He said: “They tend to use local employees. They either have them in-house, or they use local plumbers and electricians.”

Cllr Mallinson spoke after a recent report called for local authorities and developers to unlock the untapped potential of small sites.

The research showed that small builders faced a host of problems in trying to develop such sites, but such developments could help councils meet the government’s target of one million new homes in England by 2020.