AN APPLICATION has been made to build three houses on the car park of an Addingham pub.

The new homes would take up nine spaces of the car park of The Craven Heifer in Main Street, leaving nine spaces for the use of pub customers.

The three attached houses with varied roof heights would be built from stone.

The application to Bradford Council planning department has been made Philip and Karen Croft of Croft Building Ltd, who own the pub.

Karen Croft said: “We’re committed to keeping the Craven Heifer trading and the proposed development of an under-used parking area will not affect this.

“We’re local residents ourselves and we are fully aware of the contribution that the Heifer makes to the village.

“The landlord, Gavin Patterson, has worked very hard to serve the community, especially through lockdown, and we would encourage people to support him and their local pub.”

The application has attracted a number of objections from local residents concerned about the impact on surrounding homes, which are mainly occupied by elderly people.

Other concerns about the development within Addingham Conservation Area include the impact on the character of the village, an increase in parking on surrounding roads and the impact on wildlife.

Objectors also fear it will mean the demise of the popular local pub if customers can’t park. Other objectors question whether local amenities and infrastructure can cope with more houses in the village.

A comment of support has been made by Malcolm Keeble on behalf of Addingham Civic Society who says: “Addingham Civic Society supports this application in principle but with reservations.

“It accords with the Neighbourhood Plan which encourages small scale development and the use of a Brownfield sites.

“It will also make a contribution to the number of new houses for Addingham required by Bradford’s over-arching Local Plan.

“However the proposal is within the village Conservation Area and adjoins a Green Space designated in the Neighbourhood Plan.

“The relationship between the proposed development and the Green Space is unclear from the application. The “red line” on the plan excludes the Green Space but access is proposed into it from properties 2 and 3, with a new dividing fence across it down to the Main Street boundary. Neighbourhood Plan Objective 7 seeks to protect and enhance existing village Green Spaces and this should apply in this instance. Gardens and patios for properties 2 and 3 should be provided within the confines of the Craven Heifer car park leaving the Green Space undisturbed and protected.”