PLANS for housing on land near a world-famous railway station have been refused.

Nine homes were proposed for the site in Mytholmes Lane, Oakworth.

The plot is just yards from Oakworth Station, which was made famous after featuring in the classic 1970 movie version of The Railway Children – and which has seen interest rekindled following the recent release of the sequel.

Rejecting the planning application, Bradford Council said the scheme was "totally unacceptable" for the green belt location – which is currently used as an informal parking site.

Part of the land is opposite a property in Station Road that doubled up as the home of Bernard Cribbins’ character Mr Perks in the original movie.

Applicant – the Standard Life Trustee Company – claimed the land had "an appearance of neglect", adding: "The development of this small site will not prejudice the purpose of green belt land."

But concerns were raised.

Worth Valley councillor Rebecca Poulsen spotlighted potential road safety issues.

She said: "Access is either down Station Road, over a railway crossing and along a single-track road with a 90-degree turn, or via the narrow Vale Mill Lane and through a dangerous bend with no visibility of oncoming traffic.

"If vehicles meet along this section of road they have to mount the pavement to get past.

"But some of the route has no pavement and with the access difficulties it makes it dangerous for pedestrians.

"Given the proximity to the historic Oakworth Station, this area attracts a high number of tourists which makes access even harder to navigate."

In their statement, Bradford Council planning officers say: "It has not been demonstrated that the new dwellings wouldn't have additional impact on openness.

"The proposed scheme would constitute inappropriate development in the green belt and in the absence of any meaningful demonstration of very special circumstances, which may warrant the proposal being treated as an exception, it is refused.

"The nine houses and ancillary development would appear as sprawl and would be contrary to the purposes of green belt."

The officers also shared concerns about the highways situation. They said: "Mytholmes Lane is an adopted highway but one that is of substandard width and which has many physical constraints – including substandard pedestrian linkages and a tunnel through the neighbouring mill, closely followed by a blind corner.

"The proposed houses would lead to an increased number of vehicles and pedestrians."