A PLANNED housing development in a village Conservation Area has been blocked by Bradford Council.

Planning officers said the proposals to build at Woodville, off Harry Lane in Oxenhope, would spoil a "key open space" at the gateway to the village.

The application, by Dean Brown, would have seen five homes, one detached and four semi detached, built on the site off Keighley Road.

There had been nine objections to the plans, but Oxenhope Parish Council had not raised any objections.

The site is in the Oxenhope Station Road Conservation Area, and planning officers said there was a "very clear conflict with conservation policy."

Homes plan would 'harm' Oxenhope Conservation Area - according to heritage officers

They also stressed the importance of the open space to the surrounding area adding: "It continues to make a pleasant contribution, as undeveloped space, to local character.

"It is a break in the built up area, which is prominently located on one of the main road "gateways" into the village. It is also close to the Worth Valley  Heritage Railway and links with other open spaces closer to that feature."

Officers refused the application for five reasons;

That it is a key open space in a Conservation Area

That it "fails to provide the required design quality that befits the particular qualities and context of the site and its position on a gateway into the  settlement of Oxenhope."

That it "falls short of ensuring a safe layout for future residents."

That homes could "threaten the longevity" of trees at the site.

That the application "gives little indication that biodiversity considerations have been taken into account and there is little space left for nature."