PLANS to build hundreds of new homes in Otley fail to take into account proposals for High Royds Hospital, says a city councillor.

Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale) says there are too many proposed housing sites in the area and that land to the east of Otley should remain undeveloped.

Leeds City Council is currently reviewing its Unitary Development Plan in which land to the east of Otley is identified as a Strategic Housing Site.

Under the plan, it could mean up to 550 new homes, an industrial estate and an East of Otley relief road will be built in the next ten years.

But Coun Fox, who is opposing the Strategic Housing Site, says there is already a substantial amount of brownfield, previously developed, land in the town which could be used for housing - such as High Royds, the former Thomas Chippendale Primary School, Weston Ridge; the former All Saints Junior School, North Parade and the Gay Lane tannery.

He added: "One effect of the east of Otley development will be an increase in commuter traffic, especially on the A660 and to some degree the A650."

Coun Fox also believes that the new development will not see a significant increase in public transport links.

"There is no prospect that the new estate would receive more than a token extension of the very limited public transport service which the Cambridge estate already has. Crucially, there will be no enhancement of the bus service either to Leeds or Bradford."

He adds that although there is a need for affordable housing in Otley, there is no indication of what is needed and how many.

"The High Royds site alone will produce 114 affordable homes and there will be further contributions from some other brownfield sites. Overall, a significant number of affordable homes can be expected within two or three miles of the centre of Otley."

And he throws doubt on the effectiveness of the relief road to remove traffic from the town.

"In reality, it is hard to see that the relief road will have any significant impact on Otley's traffic. When the by pass was first built, the intention was always to run it down to Pool road but subsequent traffic studies indicated that there was insufficient traffic to support the project.

"As to North South traffic over Otley Bridge, the relief road will have absolutely no impact.

"It cannot access the bypass now without going through the centre of Otley and the relief road is irrelevant to their needs."

Meanwhile, major housing developer Persimmon Homes has confirmed it is still 'very interested' in building hundreds of homes in Otley.

Leeds City Council is currently reviewing sections of its Unitary Development Plan - in which land to the east of Otley is identified as a Strategic Housing Site.

Proposals for the site include up to 550 new homes, an industrial estate and an East of Otley relief road.