Four preferred sites in Ilkley have been chosen by Bradford Council as it prepares a new Local Plan which sets out how the district will grow sustainably over the next 15-20 years and what it means for local communities - a consultation has been started.
The largest of the four Ilkley sites is Coutances Way/Wheatley Lane on open fields below the Ben Rhydding scout hut, with a proposed 155 houses being build. A plot between Wheatley Grove and Ben Rhydding Drive is the next largest with 130 homes, followed by Skipton Road (20) and Stockheld Road (9). The three larger sites are all green-belt.
The draft plan features new sites for housing and employment and a range of policies which will help guide developments and link them to improvements in infrastructure as well as the determination of planning applications. It also sets out new information on open spaces, green infrastructure and places of ecological value across the district.
Central to the new draft Local Plan of the Bradford district are issues including tackling air pollution, supporting public transport, cycling and walking and making the district a more prosperous and greener place to live, work and enjoy and delivering the district’s net zero carbon ambition by 2038.
The better use of brownfield land and regeneration form key parts of the Local Plan with strong ambitions for the continued transformation of the City Centre through potential investment in high speed rail and mass transit.
The plan also sets out strategies for local areas and how they may evolve with new housing and employment opportunities whilst protecting key local assets and features.
The council is now asking residents and key stakeholders for their views on the proposals and sites featured in the draft Local Plan.
Visit https://bradford.oc2.uk/document/20 to take part in the consultation. People can phone 01274 433679 during office hours or email planning.policy@bradford.gov.uk if they have problems accessing the consultation or if they have any questions about the Local Plan. The online consultation closes on 24 March. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the consultation materials will only be available online.
The council is also planning a series of online public and stakeholder information session covering elements of the Local Plan and the proposed site allocations
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This is a key milestone in the development of the Local Plan which sets out the proposals for the growth and sustainability of the district over the next 15 to 20 years. The development of the Local Plan is important for all communities right across the district. The consultation is the first step of a key part of the process. We need to know what elements of the plan that people like and support as well as any concerns, so I would encourage everyone to make their views known via the consultation.”
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Portfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places, said: “Sustainable development and climate action are two of our key priorities for the future of the district, so the inclusion of measures to help us live in a greener, cleaner way with lower carbon emissions is vital for us to make the necessary progress to be net zero by 2038. We also have to lay the foundations of a green economy to ensure that living and working sustainably can benefit as many people as possible.”