DEVELOPING green field sites in Eastburn could solve Bradford's housing needs, developers have said.

Bryant Homes, formerly Taywood Homes, claims that Bradford Council's plans to turn Silsden into an urbanised area will not come to fruition due to land availability and problems with a proposed bypass.

The company argued at a public inquiry on Wednesday that the ensuing shortfall in housing in the Keighley district means sites in Eastburn must be released for residential development.

It was objecting to two sites in the village which have been safeguarded from development until 2014 in the council's unitary development plan (UDP): a triangle of land next to Landis Lund and a larger section of land next to Airedale Hospital.

The total area would be sufficient to build 212 homes in the village.

Marian Griffiths, representing Bryant Homes, said: "There is real concern in terms of the Keighley area that land which has been allocated for residential use will be insufficient therefore it is essential for additional sites to be identified."

The council argued that this was not the case, and Mrs Griffiths accepted that her argument rested on whether the inspectors decided if there was a shortfall.

Written into the UDP are plans for the regeneration of the Keighley district, including re-introducing industry into parts of the town, and new industries such as digital technology companies, into the Aire Valley corridor.

Along with the introduction of more industry is associated housing, which aims to meet the needs of both those moving into the area, and Craveners looking for lower cost housing.

The objectors argued that sites which are immediately available and suitable for development must be considered as alternatives to areas which have been designated for housing, but may not come to fruition.

However, the council argued that the availability of public transport and the existing infrastructure of Eastburn meant that the sites should be safeguarded until 2014.

Martin Carter, representing Bradford Council, said that the distance between the land at Lyon Road and the train station, 2.5 kilometres, was too far for people to walk and would encourage the use of cars.

He added that the distance between the land on Main Road and the station fell below the recommended two kilometres, which is seen as walkable, but the the council claimed it was still too far.

Mr Carter said that the bus service operating through the village was 'above average' but not considered a 'quality bus corridor' and that better transport links to the employment centres of Leeds, Bradford, Keighley and Skipton should precede any development.

But David Rolinson, of Spawford Associates, who appeared for the objector, said that it was the relationship between Eastburn and Keighley, Silsden, Cross Hills and other local employment sites which was relevant and these were all adequately served by public transport. He cited the Crossings Business Park in particular as an area of development which would provide jobs locally.

There was no dispute between the parties that the sites were suitable for development, it was a case of whether there was a housing need and when they should be released.

Bryant Homes say that the 0.8 hectare triangle of land adjacent to Landis Lund would be sufficient to build between 24 and 28 homes, and that it is immediately available and work could be started within a year.

But the council says the fact that the land is a green field site, and that it is prone to flooding and adjacent to a factory means that it should be held back.

Mrs Griffiths disputed arguments about noise from the factory, which she said could be resolved through the design of the homes. She added that the Environment Agency had said there was only one in a 100 year chance of flooding.

The land off Main Road is a much bigger site, bordering Airedale Hospital, Lyon Road and encompassing Green Lane.

Bryant Homes said that they would like to build 184 homes there, and their plans would include emergency access for the hospital, a new sports pitch and improved parking facilities as well as an improved pedestrian route to Green Close, necessitating the closure of Green Lane.

Mark Hutchinson, appearing for the council, said that while these benefits would be welcome, they were not essential and did not justify moving the designation of the site higher up the time scale.

A team of inspectors will hear more than 7,000 objections to the UDP and are due to complete their inquiry in June.