Comment

Representation ID: 29866

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: Batty Developments Ltd

Agent: Heritage Planning Design Ltd

Green Belt Assessment

The Green Belt Signposting Document understates the role of parcel 026 (of which the site is part) with regards to green belt purpose 2 (to prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another). It should be assessed as “major” as it plays a critical function in separating Nab
Wood, Shipley from Cottingley, Bingley.

When looking at parcel 026, it is clear that some sites are more important than others, when it comes to upholding green belt purpose 2. And, in HPD’s opinion, SH4/H is clearly the least important site within parcel 026 when it comes to fulfilling this important purpose.

Whilst it is accepted that development would reduce the gap between Cottingley and Nab Wood by around 165m, a substantial gap and sense of separation would still remain. In HPD’s opinion, the site performs weakly with respect to green belt purpose 2 and should therefore be assessed as “low”. At worst a “moderate” assessment might be justifiable.

Turning to green belt purpose 3, it is suggested that the “major” assessment of the site be aligned with the “moderate” assessment of the parcel of which it is part, since there is no obvious reason for this discrepancy.