Campaigners angry as ‘inappropriate’ scheme is approved

Bradford Council is set to build Baildon Digital Park on a 14-acre site off Otley Road after planners backed the major scheme yesterday.

The scheme, expected to create more than 700 jobs in manufacturing companies, will include a hotel, restaurant, offices and shops.

Campaigners had argued the development was “inappropriate and unnecessary” because of the large number of nearby empty brownfield sites.

Contamination fears were raised after a survey revealed trapped gas which could pose a risk to health.

But despite their concerns, councillors at yesterday’s meeting of Shipley Area Planning Panel agreed to approve the application.

They said their “hands were tied” because the site had been earmarked for employment in Bradford Council’s planning policies, ahead of other previously-developed areas.

Panel member Councillor John Hall, who voted against the recommendations, said: “This is a speculative venture by the Council to bring employment into the area, but there is an awful lot of brownfield land that could be used.”

However, another panel member, Councillor Mike Ellis, said: “The overriding issue about the site is that it is an identified employment site and has been for 11 years. We as a planning panel can’t change that.

“We have got to accept the officers’ recommendation and, I’m very sorry to say this, but our hands are tied.”

Panel chairman Councillor Shabir Hussain ordered an investigation into contamination on the site as a condition of planning approval. However, he added: “We need to look forward. I can only see the improvement of the site as an improvement for the people of Bradford.”

Following the meeting, Tim Yeardley, chairman of Baildon Residents Against Inappropriate Development (Braid), said: “I am very disappointed but not surprised. We don’t believe the Council has been open and honest about the problems including contamination and they have not properly considered traffic movements.”