FURTHER restrictions to possible development at Ilkley College will soon be in place as Bradford Council slaps on Tree Preservation Orders for most of the woodland on the site.

The college owners Bradford and Ilkley College Corporation (BICC) want to abandon the site and sell it.

But the Preservation Orders will add to the limitations of what can be done with the land when it is sold.

The fact that the main college building is Grade II listed and the site has been designated in Bradford's Unitary Development Plan as a Major Urban Greenspace already prevents developers levelling the site and building scores of profitable house.

The further restrictions on building, such as the requirement to preserve all the trees, will make the campus even less attractive to companies looking for a quick turnover of profit.

Bradford Planning officer Martyn Burke said that Tree Preservation Orders had been advertised and if no objections were received they would be ratified soon.

Bob Tilley, chairman of Ilkley Civic Society, said: "Offers from interested developers are currently being evaluated by the college agents. Accordingly, redevelopment is likely to occur soon and the trees are clearly at risk."

A spokesman for BICC said they did not want to comment until implications of imposing Tree Preservation Orders had been fuly examined.

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