PLANS to build over 80 affordable homes on a field in Bierley have been submitted to Bradford Council.

The land, Lockwood Farm off Spen View Lane, has previously been earmarked for housing, although there has been strong local opposition to previous plans to develop the site.

Countryside Properties PLC has now submitted an application for 83 houses on the 2.6 hectare agricultural site.

The homes will be a mix of 60 three-bed properties and 23 two-bed houses.

And the application says every home on the site will be classed as affordable and delivered through a grant funded scheme.

The plans come several months after a major application for a neighbouring plot of land were submitted to the Council.

In January Keepmoat Homes applied for permission to build 67 houses on a field directly to the South of the land that makes up Countryside Properties’ application.

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That application is still making its way through the planning process, and has attracted 79 objections so far. And Bradford Council’s Highways department and biodiversity team have also recently raised concerns about that scheme, saying the development includes “insufficient information” for officers to support the plans.

Countryside Property’s application says the 100 per cent affordable housing aspect of the scheme will “provide affordable routes to home ownership which will support the creation of a mixed and balanced community.”

The site is one that has been previously identified as an are of future development, and the application refers to this designation, saying: “The site is located within an area of land which was safeguarded for development. The principle of residential development on the application site has been established.

“The proposals include a mix of two and three bedroom accommodation. This will expand the house types on offer within the area and support wider opportunities for new residents to access high quality housing in this suburban location.”

The application points out that part of the site lies within Green Belt - but says the plan is for this land to be kept as an area of public open space, complete with a cycle way.

A public consultation on the plans was held in March, and saw local residents raise concerns about traffic around the site, fears that the area was being overdeveloped and questions over the pressures the new homes would put on facilities like GP surgeries and schools.

Car access to the site will be off Shetcliffe Lane.

In its “conclusion” the application says: “The development at Lockwood Farm, Spen View Lane, Bierley will provide an attractive, high quality designed area to live.

“The scale and character of the proposals will ensure that the scheme will contribute to and enhance the immediate and surrounding area. The careful consideration of the structure, massing, streetscape, landscaping and materials ensures that the development is in context with the adjacent area creating an attractive, distinctive and aspirational scheme.”

A decision on the application is expected in late November.