Crossflatts Cricket Club's fury over houses planning saga

At the root of the saga is a new development of houses built on the edge of Crossflatts Cricket Club’s pitch.

Despite planning permission being quashed in December 2021, work on the homes has continued.

The Council said any development carried out without the appropriate permission is done so at the landowner’s risk, but a Temporary Stop Notice “has not been considered appropriate”.

The new development of homes

The Bingley club fears the development could have a “catastrophic” impact on its future.

Committee member Lee Bailey said: “The club, which has a licence until 2am and relies on functions to keep the club afloat, has serious concerns about the close proximity of the houses to the clubhouse, where there is noise until the late hours, especially after cricket games and functions. 

“It is inevitable that we would receive complaints from noise. Loss of functions and the shadowing of our outside area will no doubt affect income and is likely to be catastrophic for the club and local area.”

This comes on top of concerns about access for people with mobility issues and ball-strike risk, plus issues surrounding the safety of the site. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed it has taken action.

The main argument put forward in the judicial review, which led to the quashing of planning permission, said: “In summary, there is one ground of challenge.

The club has raised major concerns about how the planning application has been dealt with by Bradford Council

“That is that the Council’s decision to grant planning permission provides legally inadequate reasons for departing from the expert advice received in relation to the risk of ball-strike and failed to have regard to other significant material considerations which had been raised by Sport England about the likely effect of the proposed development on the Claimant cricket club.”

Several concerns were also raised by the English Cricket Board (ECB). In an initial statement to the Telegraph & Argus, Bradford Council said the club did not object to the plans.

But Crossflatts said updates of new plans were not provided and permission was granted less than a month after a new plan had been submitted.

The club said it was still liaising with Sport England, the ECB and its legal team at that point.

There are fears the development will have a "catastrophic" impact on the club

The Council maintains all plans have been made publicly available and “local authorities have to make quick decisions once the necessary information is available”.

A spokesperson said: “We have been monitoring the development at the site, however to date and after careful assessment of all matters it has not been considered appropriate to issue a Temporary Stop Notice because there is no immediate threat to public safety or serious harm to amenity.

“The Council will continue to monitor the site and have the option to take formal enforcement action should it be required.

“Any development carried out without the appropriate permission is done so at the landowner’s risk.

“The planning application is pending final consideration by officers and a decision will likely be made by the Keighley/Shipley Area Planning Panel, though the meeting dates have yet to be formally scheduled due to the recent start of the civic year.”

A spokesperson for HSE said appropriate enforcement action had been taken in relation to “contraventions of Health and Safety legislation found during site inspections”.

They added: “Prohibition Notices and Improvement Notices have been issued ranging on activities from working at height, plant movement, site security, general fire precautions and welfare.

“We continue to respond to any health and safety concerns that are raised regarding this construction site.’’

Wasif Hussain, of developer Aire Valley Estates, said the firm has worked closely with the planning department on the original approved application and the resubmission.

He said: “At all times we have taken into account all adjoining neighbours including the local cricket club.

“The current building works were started when the original planning application was approved, and as such we have where possible stopped or delayed works such that we don’t contravene any planning rules.

“The HSE were notified of the commencement of works and we have adhered to the guidance they set out.

“Unfortunately, concerns have been raised throughout the development process which we have addressed each time, as we wish to have good relations with our neighbours both throughout the building process and beyond.

“The statement regarding disabled access is one whereby we have adhered to the original planning approval, and if any ongoing works cause access issues we would be happy to work with the cricket club to improve matters.”

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