AN eyesore site on the edge of Saltaire could soon be cleared up and redeveloped - but the scheme has already attracted objections.

For years the former Saltaire Garden Centre and Nursery, near Hirst Wood Lock on the Leeds Liverpool Canal, has been an unwelcome sight to those walking the picturesque stretch of the historic waterway.

The nursery shut several years ago, and the site is now dominated by derelict greenhouses and polytunnels and overgrown vegetation.

A planning application has now been submitted to Bradford Council by the owners of the site - the Hartley Property Group.

Their plans would see the derelict buildings demolished and three, 3-bedroom houses built on the site.

There would also be managed woodland trail built on the land to the North of the site that the company says would become “an asset to the local community.”

Eight parking spaces will be included in the development.

Residents urge action on former garden centre on edge of Saltaire

The application will be under added scrutiny, as the planned development would lie within Greenbelt, within the buffer zone of the Saltaire World Heritage Site and in the Leeds/Liverpool Canal Conservation Area.

Hartley’s application reveals that the group approached Bradford Council last year to propose a development of four houses and a community garden on the site, but that officers had a “negative response” to those plans.

This led to them amending their scheme, instead proposing three houses and the woodland trail.

The application says: “The proposals will provide significant improvements to the area by redeveloping a derelict canal side garden centre for both residential and community use with improved pedestrian and cycle access through the site.

“The managed woodland trail to the North will become an asset to the local community and vastly improve the environmental features on the site.”

The application was only submitted a few days ago, but has already attracted four objections.

Irene Townend has written to the Council saying: “This land could be used by the community both young and old. At the moment it is in a terrible state.

“A community garden or allotments would be more in keeping.”

Hilary Coles has written an objection to say: “Houses in this position would completely ruin the sense of open space surrounding the World Heritage Centre.” She suggests a garden or allotments would be more suitable for the site.

A decision on the application is expected in April.