Councillors back 295-home plan for green belt land

Councillors have approved plans to build 295 homes on green belt land in Bradford despite more than 1,000 objections to the scheme.

Members of Bradford Council's regulatory and appeals committee voted through the proposals for land at Fleet Lane, in Queensbury, at a meeting on Thursday.

The plans were approved after developer Barratt Homes applied to have the site reclassified as grey belt land, following a recent overhaul of the planning system designed to boost house building.

Labour councillor for Queensbury Alex Mitchell said he was "very disappointed" on behalf of residents who objected to the scheme.

Speaking after the meeting: "The frustrating thing is that, had it still be designated as green belt, then the panel said the developers wouldn't have been able to get this land.

"It's important to note that the building work is not going to start tomorrow.

"There are still feasibility studies that the developer has to bring to [council] officers before they can get shovels in the ground."

He said many residents in Queensbury felt "besieged" by developers after the rule change as they were surrounded by green belt land.

The "grey belt" is a concept introduced to the public in 2024 by senior government ministers charged with tackling a shortage of UK homes and driving economic growth.

The idea is that parts of the green belt deemed "poor quality and ugly" should be considered suitable for development.

One issue highlighted by the Fleet Lane 300 campaign group was the suitability of the land for a major housing development.

Spokesperson Judy Wetherell said: "There are mine shafts on this land. There are serious issues.

"I'm actually disgusted with the panel. While the meeting was going on they raised serious concerns.

"But at the end of it they voted and pushed it through."

Panel members highlighted issues including congestion, school place numbers, pressure on bus services and the issue of subsidence.

Paul Butler, for Barratt Homes, told the meting more than £800,000 could be paid via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which the council charges on new developments.

CIL funds help pay for infrastructure such as schools, transport, parks, open spaces and other community facilities.

The plans also include the creation of green spaces for the community and an improvement in biodiversity, according to the developer.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "The government announced rules whereby development in green belt could be classed as grey belt development if those rules have been met by the developer.

"The developer has applied in the planning application to have their proposal considered as grey belt."

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