THE nations’s biggest housebuilder has been criticised for flouting planning rules and installing large advertisements without planning permission.

Barratt Homes had already installed advertisements at two sites near Clayton before it submitted planning permission to Bradford Council for the signage.

One of the large signs was installed on Greenbelt land.

The signage is promoting the company’s Spring Valley View development in the village of Clayton, and now two applications to retain the unauthorised signage have been refused by Bradford Council.

The company said it was “disappointed” and will appeal the decision.

One of the retrospective applications was for a “tri-board advertisement” at the junction of Baldwin Lane And Highgate Road, between Clayton and Queensbury.

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Barratt Homes applied to retain the sign, in both the Green Belt and the Thornton and Queensbury landscape character area, for up to four years.

Planning officers refused the application, saying the “size and signage is over prominent and out of scale with the surrounding area.”

They added: “This is a sign that is some way from the site to which it directs.

“Its location adjacent to two roads has an adverse effect on the character of the surrounding area, the green belt and the Thornton and Queensbury landscape character area.

“The proposal is therefore considered to be harmful to visual amenity.”

Another application was for signage at the junction of Harry Lane and The Avenue in Clayton, at Clayton Cricket Club.

Clayton Parish Council had written to planning officers calling for that application to be refused, and criticising the retrospective application.

A letter by the Council said: “The council are very disappointed that a builder of such reputation has not followed the correct procedure for placing a banner in the Village without consulting the Council or the Parish Council.”

Planning officers said: “There are no other signs within the surrounding area and the retrospective PVC direction banner is considered to introduce alien incongruous feature in prominent location to a predominately residential area.

“The retrospective direction banner is therefore considered to create visual distraction to vehicle users due to its prominent location and is considered to be harmful to public safety.”

A spokesman for Barrett Homes said: “Naturally, we are disappointed with the decision of the council to refuse the planning applications for the signs in Clayton so we will be looking to appeal this.

“The rent for the signage will bring much-needed income to the local cricket club team which will help them continue their work within the community.”

Barratt’s 99 home development had already proved controversial, with the Keep Clayton Green Action Group set up to try and fight the plans.

But despite the objections, the plans were approved by Bradford Council in December 2017.