Draft Bradford District Local Plan - Preferred Options (Regulation 18) February 2021

Baildon

Introduction

5.8.1 Baildon is a town located to the east of the Bradford District approximately 8km to the north of Bradford City Centre and 4.5km to the east of Bingley, 9km south-east of Ilkley, and 15km north-west of Leeds. It is situated on relatively steeply sloping land between the foot of Baildon Moor and the River Aire, which forms its southern and eastern boundary. It forms a continuous urban area with Shipley and Bradford.

5.8.2 Baildon Moor and Baildon Bank - a steep escarpment stretching into the settlement from its western edge allows for good long distance views south and westwards from its highest point across to Shipley and Saltaire and are prominent features in landscape. The built up area extends to Baildon Moor in the north-west, Tong Park in the north east and Baildon Bottom in the south-west. The settlement also includes the residential enclave based around Glenwood Avenue which is connected to the main body by Higher Coach Road.

5.8.3 The settlement is located within the Shipley Parliamentary Constituency and mainly within Baildon Ward. A section (Baildon South West) of the built up area is within the Shipley ward. Baildon officially took on town status in June 2013. Baildon Town Council acts as the administrative body for the town.

Figure 1: Location Map

5.8.4 Baildon is primarily a residential commuter settlement with good connections to nearby towns and cities including Leeds, Bradford and Shipley. There are a range of local services and facilities to meet the needs of the local population, which is estimated at 15,547 with slighter older age profile (24.6% aged over 65 years) compared to the West Yorkshire average (16.7%). The ethnicity of the population is primarily White British at 94.3% compared to a West Yorkshire average of 78.4%.

Planning for Prosperity

5.8.5 The Local Plan settlement hierarchy identifies Baildon as a Local Service Centre. The District's Local Service Centres and rural areas form the fourth element of the settlement hierarchy in the local plan (Policy SP3) and provide services and facilities that serve the needs of, and are accessible to, people living in the surrounding rural areas.

5.8.6 The Baildon local area scores significantly lower than the West Yorkshire average across all deprivation measures if measured by number of people in the area living within the 20% most deprived areas of England as ranked by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Figure 2 shows statistical comparisons with West Yorkshire and figure 3, the areas of deprivation.

Figure 2: Indices of Multiple Deprivation

Figure 3: Baildon - Areas of Multiple Deprivation

Economy and Employment

5.8.7 Economic activity rates are also relatively positive for Baildon at 71.3% of resident population compared with 68.5% for the West Yorkshire average, with a higher percentage of full time employees and self-employed people than the sub-regional comparisons. Average household income at £42,513 is above the West Yorkshire average at £38,499. Incomes are reflective of job types with higher percentages of the local population working in managerial, professional and administrative / secretarial occupations.

5.8.8 Historically, Baildon was a centre of the woollen industry, however it has since become primarily a commuter settlement for nearby larger towns and cities including Bradford and Leeds. Employment development is centred on the Charlestown area of the town. This area is in the bottom of the valley of the River Aire between the A6038 Otley Road and the river. They consist of a mix of large retail units, trade counters, industrial/business units, workshops and factory units. Larger employers present in this area include DENSO Marston, H.C. Slingsby, Manor Coating Systems and Printcraft. This area is not included within the settlement boundary for Baildon. It falls within the Lower Baildon area which is being considered in tandem with Shipley as part of the Regional City of Bradford. The Tong Park Industrial Estate is located to the north of Otley Road adjacent to the eastern edge of the settlement. Other employment is available to the south of the River Aire in Shipley.

5.8.9 The Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) data indicates that the three largest industry groups by workforce jobs (all people in employment) are manufacturing (24.3%), wholesale (7.8%) and health (7.6%).

Retail

5.8.10 Baildon is designated in the retail hierarchy (Policy EC4) as a Local Centre. The centre is concentrated on the Towngate roundabout, Westgate and Northgate. The centre boundary is shown on the Policies Map and figure 4 below. The Retail and Leisure Study 2019 considered it to be a viable, well maintained and attractive centre with low vacancy rates, a high quality environment and good public realm.

5.8.11 The centre's convenience offer is anchored by a Co-op Food Store, whilst the comparison is varied covering a range of goods. Retail and leisure services are highlighted as being above the national average. These uses include hairdressers, beauty salons, an optician, several takeaways, restaurants and pubs. In addition, there are number of financial and business services present. The centre is also home to Baildon Library, the Ian Clough Hall and St. John's Parish Church. A bus station also located adjacent to the Martins store.

Figure 4: Baildon Local Centre

Transport and Access

5.8.12 Baildon is located on the northern edge of the key transport corridor running through the Aire Valley, providing good road and rail connections to nearby major towns and cities. It lies mostly to the north of A6038 Otley Road, which forms the southern edge of the settlement boundary. This route provides links to Shipley and Bradford (to the south) and Menston, Guiseley and Otley (to the north and north east). It is connected to the centre of Baildon by the B6151, which runs south from Browgate roundabout. Several minor roads run north from the town across Baildon Moor, providing links to Bingley (Eldwick) and Ilkley.

5.8.13 Public transport provision in Baildon is considered to be reasonable. Baildon railway station, located to the south-east, is on the electrified Wharfedale line and provides access to both Bradford Forster Square and Ilkley (2 trains per hour in each direction). Leeds can be reached via a change of train at either Guiseley or Shipley. The station's location towards the edge of the settlement poses problems in terms of accessibility for its users but both Saltaire and Shipley stations are also accessible from Baildon.

5.8.14 Although a frequent bus service runs (3 services per hour) runs from Baildon Towngate to Shipley and Bradford City Centre via the Knoll Estate and Baildon Green, much of the outlying town is not well served. There is also a more limited (hourly) service that links Lucy Hall Drive to Shipley and Bradford via the centre and east of Baildon. An hourly service between Bradford and Leeds Bradford Airport (via Guiseley and Yeadon) runs along A6038 Otley Road.

5.8.15 The Baildon area has higher levels of car ownership than the West Yorkshire average across all number of vehicles and consequently lower levels of households with no car at 19.7% compared to a sub-regional average of 29.4%. Baildon is not covered by an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and lies outside the proposed Clean Air Zone (CAZ).

5.8.16 In relation to digital connectivity, average broadband download speeds in Baildon is just over 55 megabytes per second – above the West Yorkshire average, whilst there are only 16 premises where speeds are below the Universal Service Obligation (USO)^[1].

5.8.17 Strategic transport infrastructure projects to be delivered within the plan period and protected routes are set out on the Policies Map with the local plan.

Planning for Homes

5.8.18 Baildon has 7,113 dwellings, with higher than sub-regional average number of detached and semi-detached properties, together with strong levels of owner occupancy (78.4% compared to 63.4% West Yorkshire average). The overall percentage of property build before 1900 (9.8%) is roughly half of the West Yorkshire average percentage. The dwelling type split for the Baildon area is detailed below in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Baildon - Housing Types

5.8.19 The average house price (across all dwelling types) for Baildon is £238,179, compared with a West Yorkshire average of £183,194. Average property prices per dwelling type are however lower than the England averages. The total affordability ratio between house prices and annual earnings which is usually used as a proxy for number of years' worth of earnings required for a house deposit is 4.05 compared to a West Yorkshire average of 2.96.

5.8.20 Delivering new housing is a key part of the overall development strategy for Baildon. It will ensure that the housing needs and aspirations of local people can be met, together with those of future residents, including the provision of market and affordable housing. Baildon has a reasonably strong local housing market, and further growth will support the economy and sustain Baildons role as a Local Service Centre.

5.8.21 Policy SP8 in the local plan sets out a minimum requirement of 250 dwellings to be delivered in Baildon during the plan period. These will be delivered through a mix of committed sites (those under construction or have planning permission but have not yet commenced) and allocations. Table 1 below sets out the housing position for Baildon, which also includes the application of non-implementation or discount rates for planning permissions and allocations.

Table 1: Baildon - Summary of Housing Requirement and Supply

5.8.22 Once the commitments are discounted and removed from the supply this leaves a residual allocation requirement of 177 units. The evaluated total site supply of housing units from preferred allocation sites equates to 217 units which is in turn discounted by 10% for non-implementation leaving a final allocation contribution of 195 units across all sites, which is slightly above the allocation requirement but is reflective of site yield and the practicalities of redefining strong settlement boundaries. The Council will be supportive of additional proposals for new homes on additional small sites, particularly those that provide a redevelopment opportunity to bring forward land which has been previously used. Support will also be provided to developers who wish to redevelop larger sites and/or buildings for new homes not currently identified, subject to all relevant policies in the Local Plan

5.8.23 Baildon is reasonably constrained for allocations within the established settlement boundary and the local plan proposes to allocate six greenfield sites, including three Green Belt sites to meet the housing requirement for this area. In delivering the target for new homes in Baildon it has been necessary to make some changes to the adopted green belt. Policy SP5 sets out The Councils approach and justification for green belt releases to accommodate new development and lists the sites proposed for allocation which current lie within or partly within the green belt."

5.8.24 The new local plan preferred site allocations for residential and mixed allocations to meet Baildons housing requirement are set out in Table A and identified on the Policies Map and the Site Proformas below together with the local strategies map for each plan area. Development of site allocations should be in accordance with specified development guidelines and approximate site provision figures and all other relevant policies of this Local Plan.

Planning for Places and Communities

Green Belt, Natural Landscape and Historic Character

5.8.25 Baildon is surrounded by Green Belt, particularly to the north, east and west/south west. These areas fall within the Airedale, Esholt and Rombalds Ridge Landscape Character Areas. The prevailing landscape character is a mixture of types including enclosed pasture (to the east), gritstone moorland (to the north and south west), industrial corridor (to the south), mixed upland pasture (to the north/north west and east), wooded incline (to south west) and wooded valley (to the east and west). These are assessed as having varying strengths of character and historic continuity, and degrees of visibility and enclosure. The Landscape Character Assessment notes that some of these areas are moderately sensitive or sensitive to change. The gritstone moorland is classed as being very sensitive.

5.8.26 There are two designated Conservation Areas in Baildon, namely Baildon and Baildon Green. The section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Conservation is partially within and adjoining the built up area at its south west corner. The Conservation Area boundaries are shown on the Policies Map. Roberts Park (on the south western edge of Baildon and northern edge of Saltaire) is considered to be a nationally important site which has been included in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. The park is also identified as an archaeologically important site. There are a total of 44 Listed Buildings within the town, the majority of which (43) are Grade II Listed. There is one which is Grade II* Listed (Baildon). Five Scheduled Monuments are found close the western and north western edges of the built up area on Baildon Moor. The majority of these features are cup marked rocks. The Moor has been identified as an area of archaeological importance.

5.8.27 Baildon is within close proximity to the Saltaire World Heritage Site and as a result land to the north west covering much of Baildon Moor and the west of Baildon lies within the 500m Buffer Zone of the World Heritage Site. This zone will have implications for development as it may affect views into and out of the World Heritage Site should be protected.

Green Infrastructure (GI), Ecology, Open Space and Flood Risk

5.8.28 The town has a range of corridors and spaces that contribute towards its Green and Blue Infrastructure network. Key corridors include the valley of the River Aire (a regionally important GI corridor), Shipley Glen and the Gill Beck valley. Baildon Moor and Baildon Bank are also highly important components of this network. These corridors are detailed below in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Green Infrastructure Corridors

5.8.29 Baildon Moor and the countryside to the north, east and west of the settlement contain a number of biodiversity designations such as Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) – Baildon Bank; Baildon Moor; Fairbank Wood; Shipley Glen; Tong Park with Hawksworth Spring Wood; and Shipley Glen - and Local Geological Sites (LGS) – Baildon Bank & Baildon Green Quarries; Baildon Moor; and Shipley Glen. The Trench Meadows Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is adjacent to the south western edge of the built up area. There are also several areas of ancient woodland - Fairbank Wood and Walker/Midgeley Woods – within and adjacent to the settlement. The vast majority of Baildon falls within 7km of the South Pennine Moors (Phase 2) SPA and SAC (and SSSI).

5.8.30 Baildon has a wide range of identified open spaces – totalling 74 sites with a land take of circa 199ha. Key sites within the town include Baildon Cricket Ground, Baildon Rugby Club, Baildon Golf Course, Hollins Hall Golf Course, Fairbank and The Dell Recreation Ground and Playing Fields. There are good levels of provision of certain typologies in this area, however there are deficiencies in provision in the northern part of the settlement (north of West Lane). There are high levels of deficiency in three typologies, where there is a need for increased provision – parks, cemeteries and allotments. In terms of cemetery provision, this type of space is often provided at a sub-area level and therefore provision of this type of space is not a mandatory requirement in every settlement. Any additional provision of such space may help to provide a more sustainable option for the residents of Baildon. Figure 7 below shows the location and type of open space in Baildon.

Figure 7: Baildon - Open Space Overview

5.8.31 Fluvial flood risk is generally associated with the River Aire to the south of Baildon. There are however identified areas of surface water flood risk across the town associated with principal transport routes.

Community Infrastructure – Education, Health and Utilities

5.8.32 In addition to the retail provision, described above, the town has a good range of community facilities and services to meet the day to day needs of the local population. This includes the town's library and range of spaces for local groups and functions. There is also a post office (located on Station Road), five public houses, a social club and eight Places of Worship.

5.8.33 Baildon is served by 4 primary schools – Sandal Primary School, Baildon Church of England School, Hoyle Court Primary School and Glenaire Primary School - with the capacity to accommodate 1,417 pupils. Most schools are under capacity, with only one being over capacity. The nearest secondary school is Titus Salt School, located adjacent to Roberts Park in Saltaire. It has the capacity to accommodate 1,520 pupils. The school also includes sixth form provision. Pupils attainment levels at Key Stages 1,2 and 4 (GCSE) are generally above national average.

5.8.34 Shipley College is located in Saltaire, immediately to the south, and offers a range of full-time courses for school leavers, traineeships, apprenticeships and supported internships as well as part-time courses for adults looking to gain skills for professional and/or personal development.

5.8.35 Baildon has a two NHS registered healthcare facilities within the town. There are three GP surgeries/health centres covering Baildon and the surrounding area. Secondary (acute) healthcare is provided at Airedale General Hospital in Steeton and Bradford Royal Infirmary in the city. Average life expectancy for Baildon residents is 78 for men and 84 for women, which is similar to the West Yorkshire and England averages. Healthy life expectancy is 66 for men and 68 for women. Figure 8 below shows the location of local schools and medical facilities.

Figure 8: Schools & Medical Facilities in Baildon

5.8.36 When planning for the long-term development of Baildon, it is vital that new development is supported by the appropriate infrastructure. The capacity, quality and accessibility of services and facilities are all key components in ensuring people can enjoy living, working and visiting the area. The Council will continue work with key infrastructure providers and others including the Local Education Authority, Clinical Commissioning Group and utilities providers to determine the impacts of future growth and development on local infrastructure capacity and provision. Further infrastructure details will be published through the Local Infrastructure Plan and as part of the Regulation 19 stage of the local plan.

(34) Consultation Question 98

Preferred Site Allocations and Site Pro Formas

5.8.37 The preferred housing site allocations are detailed below in Tables A. This table is subsequently followed by site pro formas for each preferred site allocation proving a summary of key site information and characteristics.

Table A: Housing & Mixed Use - Preferred Allocations

(10) Consultation Question 99

^[1] Universal Service Obligation (USO) - download speeds at or above 10Mbit/s and upload speeds at or above 1Mbit/s including non-matched records and zero predicted speeds