DEVELOPERS wanting to close a traditional dairy farm and build a technology centre on its historic site have submitted amended plans to Bradford Council.

Land owner the Hartley Property Group made the controversial application last year to change the use of Milner Field, in Gilstead, Bingley, and create the Bradford Innovation Centre, which would include research laboratories and units for start-up businesses.

Initial plans involved total demolition of the site and new building on the footprint of the old stone farmhouse and stone barns.

But now that has been changed, with those aspects being retained.

HPG's amended plan states: "Through examination, interrogation and research of the existing structure on site, it was established that the farmhouse, Block B and part of Block D (stone barns) were suitable for refurbishment.

"The rest of the structures are large dilapidated farm sheds in varying state of disrepair and wholly unsuitable for re-use."

It has also been decided not to propose widening and changes to the Milner Field entrance, apart from a "sensitively designed sign."

"With reference to the initial concept, it was vital that no unnecessary alteration would take place here so that the existing aesthetic can be retained."

The overall plans show a centre which will include office space, research wet labs, a cafe and a 100-space car park and have been submitted with the support of Bradford University.

Fields, trees and woodlands are shown as unchanged by the development.

But opponents fear once it is no longer designated as farmland, those plans could be ditched in favour of residential development and, that in any form, development will worsen traffic problems on Primrose Lane which runs past the entrance to Milner Field farm.

All objections submitted before the amendments will still be considered by Bradford Council planners and the current closure date for submissions is Tuesday, April 26, said tenant farmer David Downs, who stands to lose the dairy farm started by his great-great-grandfather and whose 180 Friesians provide milk for 2,000 local homes.

"All this really means is re-purposing the existing farm house and stone farm buildings.

"The original plan was to demolish everything and completely level the site," Mr Downs said.

"But now they are wanting to do it like barn conversion and put some offices inside the existing stone buildings rather than flatten everything.

"It appears to be something to appease those objections made on historical grounds, but it doesn't actually change anything about the overall plan.

"There's some tweaks and side-steps regarding things like the road and the entrance, but those are not really significant.

"It's the case that if this application for change of land use gets passed in whatever form, that triggers an instant eviction for us."

Hartley Property Group declined to respond to requests for a comment.