A bid is being made to register fields earmarked for a controversial business development at Buck Lane, Baildon, as an “Asset of Community Value” – thereby giving people the chance to buy them.

Baildon Parish Council is applying under the recent Localism Act to register the site off Otley Road.

And if that application is approved, then community groups would have the opportunity to try to buy the fields if they were ever put up for sale.

The 15-acre site is owned by Bradford Council and is a designated area for the development of a business park with some residential properties – a move opposed by many residents and action groups who submitted a 1,700-name petition.

Parish council deputy chairman Joe Ashton said the attempt to gain the status reflected its opposition to the Buck Lane development.

“We wanted to do it so that residents might be able to put a bid in, even if the odds are stacked against us,” Councillor Ashton said.

Parish councillor Ian Lyons has championed the cause of action group Baildon Residents Against Inappropriate Development (BRAID) and said the move was to enable any community group to act if the district council put the land on the market.

“We are going to apply for the same status for lots of places around Baildon, starting with Buck Lane.

“At the moment, Bradford Council just has a plan. The land has not been sold, but the community has been excluded from the process.

“We still have no idea about if any possible prices would give value for money, but by doing this we hope to at least open up access to information on what’s going on,” Coun Lyons said.

Bradford Councillor Roger L’Amie (Con, Baildon) said he supported the application to make the area an “Asset of Community Value”.

“I feel that Bradford Council has taken very little notice of the strong and long-term opposition to this scheme by Baildon people,” he said. “And if this fires a shot across its bows, then it’s a good idea to do it.”