Young couples in booming Ilkley may soon have the chance to buy their own homes instead of having to move out to areas where property is cheaper.

A Newcastle-based housing developer has applied to build 78 homes on the site of the former International Wool Secretariat research and development centre in Valley Drive.

The plan by Bellway Homes Ltd, which is believed to be linked with a housing association, proposes the building of 17 houses, 29 one-bedroom flats and 32 two-bedroom flats.

Campaigners for affordable housing in Ilkley are pressing for Bradford Council to make sure that around 40 per cent of the development is provided as discount housing for less well off couples.

And Bradford Council has confirmed that there is no barrier in principle to prevent a sum of about £400,000 provided by Ilkley College developer Crest Homes (Northern) Ltd being used to subsidise the new homes.

The news comes amid a row about developers paying "commuted sums" to Bradford Council to avoid building affordable homes in the area.

MP Chris Leslie vowed today to speak to Bradford Council planning officials about the issue.

The site, measuring about an acre, was last year the subject of a planning application to relocate a bathroom fittings warehouse and factory from Silsden, but it was dropped after fierce local opposition.

Since then it has been regarded as a prime site for affordable housing, which would mean an application to the Secretary of State for the Environment to change its designation from light industrial land. The Government favours housing development on 'brownfield' sites rather than the Green Belt. Audrey Brand, chairman of Ilkley Parish Council's planning committee, said: "We would welcome affordable housing in Ilkley because there is a need for it. But I would like to see the plans and hear any objections before I make any further comment."

Bob Tilley, who has campaigned for affordable housing on behalf of Ilkley Civic Society, said: "I think it is excellent. I knew that housing associations were looking at the site. My only concerns are density, car parking and design, but we would have to look at that."

District and Parish Councillor Anne Hawkesworth said she had been urging Bradford Council to add the money from Crest Homes to funds available for affordable housing on the site.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "Subject to the money becoming available, we would have no problem with merging resources to increase the subsidy level to provide affordable housing in the Ilkley area."

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