DEVELOPERS are preparing to go into battle with City Hall officials over Addingham's planning blueprint for the next ten years.

In the Bradford Unitary Development Plan (UDP), Addingham has been spared the planning blight experienced by other areas of the district, such as Silsden.

But house builders want to see the draft UDP torn up and replaced with one which designates the majority of the land between the bypass and the village as housing land.

Today a Department of the Environment planning inspector was due to hear the developers' objections at a public inquiry into the UDP. During the hearing, at Victoria Hall, Saltaire, planning officers will be forced to defend their decision to spare the village extra development.

Addingham Parish Council chairman Gordon Campbell said members had supported Bradford Council's plans for the village in almost every instance. There was one objection about a site earmarked for development but as the land was owned by the parish council, any building would be unlikely to take place.

But because the parish council supports the UDP the body will not be required to put its case to the planning inspector.

Coun Campbell said: "We are supporting the UDP. Anyone who has put an objection to the proposals is allowed to present their case to the inspector. Because we are in support we are not allowed to say a word."

When the UDP was published parish councillors were very pleased that it proposed to protect green spaces in and around the village.

"If they had let us write the UDP ourselves we don't think we could have got it much better," said Coun Campbell.

But he said he knew builders and land owners wanting to make a profit would challenge the proposals. To represent the interests of villagers opposed to development, the parish council has appointed a solicitor to attend the inquiry.

As well as wanting to fill in the land between the village and the bypass with houses, Coun Campbell said there were other sites in Addingham, such as Manor Garth and around Wharfe Park, that developers had their eyes on

Coun Campbell said members of the parish council had their fingers crossed that the inspector would help to protect the village.

"We are hoping in real terms that the inspector will just back the planners," Coun Campbell said.