BRADFORD Green Party councillors have raised concerns over Labour's plans to overhaul the planning system.

The new Government has announced all Councils in England are set to be given new, mandatory housing targets to pave the way to deliver 1.5 million more homes over the next five years.

Labour has also said Councils would have to review their green belt areas to identify 'grey belt' land, which includes old petrol stations and car parks.

A Government spokesperson said all areas of the country, including Bradford, "must play their part in building the homes we need".

But Green Party councillors in Bradford claimed Labour's proposals would "impose arbitrary housebuilding targets that ignore real local need, give even more say to big developers and silence local voices". 

Green Party Councillor Ursula Sutcliffe, who serves Tong ward on Bradford Council, also raised concerns the plans would "not deal with the crisis in lack of affordable housing".

She said: "The community I represent desperately needs more affordable social housing for local people and there are so many vacant sites that need redevelopment. 

"People tell me they want to see more affordable homes for local people.  

"There are thousands of families in Bradford in desperate need of new homes, but there is no incentive to build affordable housing. 

"What Labour is proposing just won't help them. 

"We need new homes, close to the city centre, close to where jobs are and good public transport."

Green Party Cllr Caroline Whitaker, who represents Craven on the Council, added: "Greens recognise that a balance needs to be struck between the genuine need for new homes and caring for our countryside.

"But what Labour has done is to shift the balance even further in favour of the developers."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "All areas of the country, including Bradford, must play their part in building the homes we need, so that we can deliver 1.5 million homes over the next five years. 
 
"We have been clear that we will take a brownfield first approach to development, and our new method for calculating housing targets better responds to affordability pressures to ensure more homes are built in the least affordable areas."

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: "Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past and set us on our way to tackling the housing crisis, delivering 1.5 million homes for those who really need them."