In the fifth of a series of 27 articles analysing the key study into the availability of land in Bradford, City Hall Reporter JO WINROW looks in depth at the possibilities for housing sites in Bradford North-West.
Under draft plans setting out a district-wide blueprint until 2028, a total of 4,000 new homes will be needed in the north-west of Bradford.
Public consultation is continuing over Bradford Council's Local Development Framework core strategy, which sets out proposals of where up to 45,500 homes could be built across the district over the next 15 years.
As the preparation of the key planning document continues, land will be allocated setting out the exact location of where these homes can be built. For the moment, a strategic assessment of available land in the north west area of the city identifies a total of 57 sites as having the potential for house building.
However it is 39 of these plots that planners believe could be delivered within the 17-year timeframe of the assessment.
At 21, more than half of these are classed as greenfield sites, and a further 16 are previously developed land - or brown-field.
In total Council planners believe the 121 hectares of land could yield 3,032 homes, which is less than the 4,000 target in the draft LDF. Many of the sites are suitable for development now, while others are potentially suitable given policy constraints, such as being in the green belt.
A large amount of land has been put forward for consideration to the west which is currently protected as green belt land but could provide longer-term development opportunities.
A number of green belt sites in Thornton and Allerton ward have been pin-pointed in the assessment, including fields to the west side of Allerton Lane containing historic farm buildings, which could provide space for 388 homes. However significant infrastructure would be required. Furthermore a 35-acre green belt site of open pasture at Prune Park Lane, Allerton, could accommodate 930 homes, but substantial off-site infrastructure would be required as well as substantial master planning.
Land at Haworth Road, Sandy Lane, is also highlighted, despite poor access, as providing space for 119 houses.
Local Conservative councillor Malcolm Sykes said: "I imagine my constituents will be concerned about protecting the green belt. A lack of infrastructure could have a tremendous impact on these proposed development sites in my ward."
In Toller a cricket ground at Allerton Road, Four Lane Ends, is considered surplus to requirements by the owner and could provide space for 67 homes. The land is currently designated as playing fields within the replacement Unitary Development Plan.
Key sites identified in Manning-ham include 106 homes on vacant land and buildings at Drummond Trading Estate, Lumb Lane and 62 homes on land occupied by 1970s maisonettes at Trenton Drive, Green Lane, which were identified through the Manningham Masterplan.
In addition there are also a number of opportunities on land and buildings previously used for other development which could come forward in the short and medium term as the market improves.
A key plot in Clayton and Fairweather Green ward is previously-developed land at Bull Royd Lane, Allerton, which could provide for 89 homes in the first six years of the plan. The site is cleared and already has planning permission.
In Heaton, former industrial land at Thorn Lane, Heaton, already has permission for 161 homes, and an alternative scheme was being con-sidered.
Chellow Grange quarry has also been highlighted for potential housing, but is currently on the market, with a potential of 73 homes.
In addition a section of green belt land at Hazel Walk, Daisy Hill, could provide 235 homes.
Local Labour councillor Imdad Hussain said brownfield land needed to be built on first.
"There is a massive housing shortage which could lead to problems in the future unless enough land is allocated, " he said.
"However, we need to be careful about how far we go into the green belt."
THE LONG-TERM LAND STRATEGY
The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) is a technical document which will provide a pool of sites from which to select land to be allocated for housing when preparing the Local Development Framework.
The Framework is a blueprint that will manage development and growth across the district over the next 15 years.
Consultation on it's core strategy document, which sets out a long-term spatial vision for the district until 2028, is continuing. It sets out broad locations for development and policies that will influence the use of land and the type and scale of development permitted, as well as identifying key infrastructure requirements.
The overall Local Development Framework is expected to come into effect in 2013 with consultation over specific land allocations taking place during 2012.
Sites included in the current SHLAA may not make it into the land allocations documents and final framework. In addition further potential sites could be identified as the assessment is updated every year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here