Object

Representation ID: 11807

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Clive Brook Planning

The exclusion (and subsequent allocation) of this site (IL/020A) from the Green Belt is justified in relation to the exceptional circumstances which apply to the housing need, requirement and supply at this Principal Town and the need for a range of sites including small deletions from the Green Belt where this can logically be achieved in association with adjacent nearby changes, as is the case in these particular location and site circumstances.

The Council’s Green Belt review rejects the site on outline Green Belt grounds and does not progress this site to a full site specific review. I disagree with the conclusions reached. While the site is not currently attached to the urban area within the settlement boundary of Ilkley it is within the Growth study 500 m arc parcel which did not dismiss the potential of this and related sites and gave much greater and more realistic consideration to the housing need and demand for this Principal Town.

The Council further conclude that it could only be considered for release in association with sites IL/037 and IL/039. I totally disagree with this conclusion as it could come forward, without IL/037 and IL/039, in association with IL/009 and the already developed sites in the current residential cell to either side of Ben Rhydding Drive.

I also disagree with the assessment that this site would have “a major potential impact on the Green Belt. Given the site’s association with existing development and its high degree of containment by this it cannot be concluded that its release would contribute to urban sprawl (purpose 1 in the assessment). Similarly, the development of this site would make no contribution to purpose 2 -preventing neighbouring towns from merging into one another. The site would only have a limited negative impact on purpose 3 of the Green Belt- assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. Purpose 4- the preservation of the setting and special character of an historic town we have argued does not apply in the Ilkley or Bradford wide context.