Cottingley residents' concern over homes on March Cote Lane

Developers are planning new-builds, 31 of which will be classed as affordable housing, on land to the south of March Cote Lane.

But residents say they are concerned about healthcare provision, school places and traffic –described by one resident as “horrendous”.

Philip Crowther, who has lived in Cottingley for a decade, says the local primary school is “creaking at the seams”.

And Susan Dwyer, who has spent 52 years in the village, said extra pressure on the GP surgery would make the situation “very grave”.

She said: “Currently, there is approximately a five-day wait for an appointment at the local GP surgery in Cottingley, sometimes much longer.”

Patchett Development Ltd's plans for the site to the south of March Cote Lane

Mrs Dwyer said residents were also concerned about about potential flooding, drainage and the impact on wildlife. The site is home to red-listed curlews in the spring and summer months.

She said: “We all know Bingley floods, with climate change there will be wetter weather and Bingley will flood more often. If anything should be done with that land, it should be planted with trees to alleviate future flooding problems.”

Councillors have been warned by residents about congestion on Rysander Way and March Cote Lane.

Mr Crowther, who is worried about the proposed entrances and exits, said: “Houses have to be built but they’ve got to be built in the right place.

“Parking, on both streets, is half on the pavement, half on the road. Of course, that leads into access for emergency vehicles. It’s already bad.”

Last August, lifelong resident Jamie Woodhead contacted Simon Cooke, a now-retired Bingley Rural councillor.

Mr Cooke said at the time: “This [Development Plan Document] is in its early stages so there is, as yet, no consultation on possible sites.

Homes close to the proposed development site off March Cote Lane, Cottingley

“At present the land in question is greenbelt, meaning that any application will need to demonstrate ‘exceptional circumstances’ to be granted. Housing need is not, on its own, an exceptional circumstance.”

The plans have been announced days after Bradford Council declared more greenbelt land may be spared under a revised Bradford Local Plan.

The district may only need 1,703 new homes a year instead of 2,476.

A Council spokesperson said: “The review of the Council’s core strategy is currently out for consultation and proposes lower district housing targets than the current adopted Strategy. The proposed core strategy does not allocate any housing sites in Cottingley, however, the review is in its early stages and will be subject to consultation and examination. It could be several years before it is formally adopted.”

Patchett Developments Ltd is due to deliver an outline planning application in the coming weeks.

Developer Charles Patchett said: “We are proud of our local business development achievements and have held this land for a considerable number of years. We are aware of a very acute shortage of local housing and we are proposing to submit a planning application that not only delivers market and affordable housing to meet a local need but also propose very extensive areas of public green space to be enjoyed by all local residents.”