MORE than seven in ten residents in the region feel insufficient focus is placed on providing supporting infrastructure when new homes are built.

Seventy-six per cent of Yorkshire respondents in a new survey said more emphasis should be placed during the planning process on the provision of parks, leisure facilities and amenities such as cafes.

A further 47 per cent felt not enough had been done to support the development of schools and nurseries.

And over half believed that quickly building a high volume of houses negatively impacted on community spirit.

Pressure on infrastructure has frequently been cited among objections to proposed housing schemes across the Keighley district.

The latest research surveyed homeowners, private renters and social housing occupants.

Its findings are outlined in the Future Communities Report, published by Eurocell.

The document, which includes expert input from architects, outlines the type of communities people hope to live in and current trends in the built environment sector.

Chris Coxon, for Eurocell, said: “In the report, a recurring point made by those involved was that it isn’t simply about providing accommodation – it is also about developing buildings that provide a strong supporting infrastructure.

“As such, we wanted to gain an insight into the communities that people want to live in and to provide the construction industry with a resource that will help it shape built environments that people desire.

“The housing crisis shows no sign of abating, so it’s vital that we have these conversations now.

“As a sector, we must reflect and act upon the issues facing future communities by listening to the views of residents not just regionally, but across the UK. After all, that’s who will be living in them.

“When asked to identify the top factors in ensuring that enough supporting infrastructure is developed in the communities of the future, 32 per cent of those surveyed highlighted the need to provide more opportunities for local residents to input on planning decisions – while 35 per cent said there should be collaboration between planners and service providers. Other factors highlighted included the need for greater focus on the design and construction of multi-use buildings.”