CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a cemetery in a rural part of the District have been withdrawn by the developer, days before a planning committee were likely to refuse them.

Proposals for a multi faith cemetery at Old Allen Road, between Wilsden and Thornton, were first submitted in 2020.

The application was due to go before members of Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee today, but the application was withdrawn and the meeting has now been cancelled.

Submitted by Amar Hussain, the application had said the site would provide 1,000 burial spaces, a garden of tranquility and a car park for 35 vehicles.

Planning committee urged to refuse plans for new cemetery in rural area of District

Over 650 people objected to the plans, and planning officers at the Council had also raised concerns about the application.

In a report that would have been presented to the committee, members were advised to refuse the plans.

Officers gave five reasons the plans should be refused, ranging from impact on the Green Belt to harm the work may cause to neighbouring listed buildings to the increase of traffic to a rural area.

The report said: "The site is in a remote, rural, unsustainable location and it is most likely that all attendees would travel by car."