Council land earmarked for housing to be sold

A plot of green space earmarked for 75 houses is to be sold by cash-strapped Bradford Council as it tries to improve its finances.

The land, off Hainworth Wood Road, Hainworth Road and Gingerbread Clough in Keighley, is one of several assets it plans to sell.

The Keighley site is included in Bradford's Draft Local Plan as having the potential to support a 75-house development.

It comes two years after the government agreed to provide the council with "exceptional financial support" and allowed it to sell off some assets to fund its day-to-day operations.

Under normal financial rules, councils can only use the money raised from asset sales for other capital projects - not services like social care or road repairs.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, new documents show that Steven Mair, the council's Interim Strategic Director Corporate Resources, had recently approved the disposal of a number of different assets.

No potential sale prices for the assets have yet been decided.

The council has already disposed of scores of assets, from plots of land to buildings and car parks.

Others earmarked for sale include an industrial building on Hillam Road, Bradford, that is currently let to Surefreight International Limited on a 99-year lease that began in 1979, and a car dealership, also on Hillam Road, leased to Beckside 4 x 4 Limited.

More than 3 acres of grazing land at North Dene Road in Silsden has also been approved for disposal. Part of the site is leased to a farm business, and the land is included as a possible housing site in the council's Draft Local Plan.

The Hainworth Road site is described as a "site comprising approximately 9.28 acres (3.76 hectares) and currently subject to two individual grazing licences.

"The land is allocated for the development of circa 75 units within the Bradford area Draft Local Plan.

"The area known as Gingerbread Clough is a tree shelter belt running along the line of a part culverted water course across the site and classified as green space to be retained as green space as part of any future development plans."

Councillors have until Friday to "call in" any of the plans for further consideration.

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