SH3/H - Wycliffe Road

Object

Representation ID: 2708

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Ms Tenley Martin

This is a valuable green space and should remain that way for recreation not housing - something that the land is not suitable for due to the underground spring.

Object

Representation ID: 2733

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Ms Helen Bowman-Wray

This site is a well used and loved essential green space. The volume of houses proposed would leave little space left for play. The houses in the vicinity have either small or no gardens and major roads on either side make this the safest option for children. This is a community space. Perhaps the addition of communal garden space, orchards etc would enhance this space.

Object

Representation ID: 2813

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Ms Gillian Crawshaw

This is a well used public space. The surrounding houses don't have gardens so it is used by local children to play and socialise. It should remain as an open field. More houses will add to traffic on the main road which is already congested and polluted. Will add numbers applying to local schools GPs and dentists already over subscribed. Shipley is a lovely place to live because of the open spaces and greenery. I don't want to live in a heavily built up area.

Object

Representation ID: 2868

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Mrs Clare Buckley

This land is a green oasis in the centre of Shipley. Many of the residents which live nearby to the land do not have gardens and this recreational land is perfect for children to play and for local residents to walk.
I believe it has been designated as land for locals to use since the 1960s and should remain so.
The area is already built up and has a lot of traffic passing through it. At certain times of the day (rush hour), the roads surrounding the area are congested and air pollution high. Further traffic in this area will have a negative impact on the health of the people of Shipley and particularly around Wycliffe Road.

Support

Representation ID: 2871

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Mr Freddie richards

Lack of local housing

Object

Representation ID: 2890

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Mr Samuel Fenwick

This is a much needed and much used green space for local residents in the area. It provides an area where parents of young children can allow their children to play nearby to their homes under my supervision. It also provides a green space close to particularly low income households in the area, and helps to prevent a build up of pollution from the busy nearby roads. This is unfair on those who currently live there. If the objective is to provide council housing then perhaps seek an area of land that isn’t so treasured by the local community.

Object

Representation ID: 2898

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Mrs Susie Lloyd

This is valued open space used by the whole community.
1) The council has obligations to actively protect this land as recreation open space (reference Core Strategy (2017) EN1 and Local Plan Policy CO1).
- There is an identified deficiency of open green space in the area/Shipley, and this proposal is to reduce the quantity of open green space even more.
I strongly object to the space having this important designation removed
2) This land as greenspace is vital for health, wellbeing, exercise and recreation as parks are a long way away – too far for children to travel unsupervised, and involve main road crossings.
The impact of removal of green space will be increased health inequality, increased mortality and morbidity, increased instances of violence and aggression within our community, decreased mental health and wellbeing for our children, reduced air quality, and so on. This knowing removal of health benefits cannot be justified, particularly in the context of Bradford’s known problems with health inequalities and high rates of cardiovascular disease, high rates of diabetes, high rates of childhood asthma, and high infant mortality.
- Concerned about the impact of local air pollution problems on health, and horrified to hear that green space, one of the only mitigating factors we have, is under threat. The Bradford Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR) (2020) lists our area as an ‘area of concern’ due to ‘elevated NO2 concentration’ in the air.
Many people travel via the green to work, or to the local nurseries, primary and secondary schools and this route provides an active travel route away from the main roads.


Further e-mail submission received 22/03/21:

Dear Planning Department,

I submitted this objection using your portal yesterday but my confirmation email indicated that all my formatting such as quote marks or bullets points had been altered by the portal to euro or @ signs, making it very hard to read - so I am resending it by email here.

This is my objection to the plan to build housing on SH3/H - Wycliffe road within the current Draft Local Plan.

This is valued open space used by the whole community – we as a community of the streets surrounding the green have all been dismayed and distressed to hear about the plans to take this space, which has been in active use by the community for generations, away from us.

Please see my two main concerns outlined below:

1) The council has obligations to actively protect this land

Government and local policies show that recreation open space like this is supposed to be protected. The Core Strategy Development Plan (DPD) Adopted by Bradford Council July 2017 Policy EN1 (Page 211) states: ‘A. Land identified as recreation open space, or which is currently or was formerly used for recreation open space will be protected from development’.

The Bradford Council Strategic Land Assessment (2021) (page 61) describes this land as: ‘Greenfield-Recreation open space’.

Local Plan Policy CO1 provides protection against the development of those existing open spaces as identified on the Policies Map Replacement Unitary Development Plan (2005) as follows: “ The loss of open space, sports and recreational buildings and land will only be permitted under the following exceptions:
1. The loss will not lead to a deficiency in the area
2. The loss would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity, quality"

However, there is already an identified deficiency of open green space in the area, and this proposal is to reduce the quantity of open green space even more.

Until the publication of the Draft Local Plan the land was zoned as ‘OS2 Recreation Open Space’, which affords it similar protection as described above in The Core Strategy Development Plan (DPD) A. In other words, land which we believed was protected from development has quietly been moved out of such a designation in this Draft Local Plan, apparently for the sole for the purpose of stripping it of its protections.

I strongly object to the space having this important designation removed with absolutely no consultation about the removal of the designation with the community who use the land.

The Draft Local Plan claims to protect open spaces when in fact it has removed our 1.3 hectares of open space from the map. The land should remain as Open Space, with the typology of ‘Amenity Greenspace’ as defined in the Open Space Audit Feb 2021.

Local policies point out that there is actually an identified shortfall of green space in Shipley and that the stated goal is to increase, not decrease space. How will this goal be achieved if our precious green recreation space is to be built upon?

Bradford Council Open Space Audit Report 2021 (page 44) states: Shipley has a deficit of Amenity Greenspace of 5.72 hectares and the priority for increasing provision is rated as ‘Moderate’.

In percentage terms Shipley only has 36% of the Amenity Greenspace that the Council thinks the area needs. In what way does this proposal to build on our green space address the 63% deficit in green space that the council have identified as a concern?

Friends of The Earth used and A to E rating system to identify areas that are most deprived of green space in their research document ‘England’s Green Space Gap’ document (2020) Shipley was identified as being very low on green space, as category ‘D’ ( the second to lowest category).

2) This land as greenspace vital for the health and wellbeing of me, my family and my local community
Public Health England said in their 2020 document ‘Improving Access to Greenspace’ that: ‘Local authorities play a vital role in improving, maintaining and protecting existing greenspace’. They say that local authorities should: ‘Consider local green space to be a critical asset for maintaining and supporting health and wellbeing in local communities. The evidence base linking health and greenspace is compelling and encourages fresh thinking about the way these spaces can help meet local priorities.’

The Bradford District Local Plan (2021) states: ‘Paragraph 3.1.9 The Council places considerable importance on promoting and improving health and well-being and this is reflected in the policies of the Local Plan which seek to protect and enhance green spaces.’

My two children play and exercise very regularly on the green and if this land is built upon they would have nowhere else local to play.

My house backs onto the green, and we are one of the very few houses near the green to have a garden at all, but the intense pollution problems on the main road make our garden, situated on the main road, unusable for play. The parks are a long way away – too far for my children to travel unsupervised, and involve main road crossings.

In 2009 the Early Years & Childcare Service, Bradford Council sent a flyer to local residents which said: ‘Recent consultation with children and adults in the Wycliffe Gardens area, conducted by Shipley Community Housing Trust, has identified that there are no safe play areas for children and young people. This is supported by a recent audit of play provision in the Shipley Ward undertaken by The Play Team at Early Years and Childcare Service’

Public Health England also said the following in their 2020 document ‘Improving Access to Greenspace’ ‘Greenspace supports the development of skills and capabilities – particularly for young people, there is emerging evidence that spending time in greenspace is associated with a range of benefits including improved motor skills, better academic performance and increased concentration.’

By building on this green space you would be taking away these benefits from my children, and from all the neighbourhood children who use this space.

As well as my children regularly using the space for play, I use this space for exercise and for the mental health benefits of being able to go to a quiet outdoor green area for fresh air with beautiful views of the mill in the World Heritage Site and surrounding countryside.

In Bradford District Council’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (2019) they themselves say that having access to green space has loads of benefits for the community:
• Improved mental health and wellbeing for children, young people and adults
• Increased likelihood of physical activity across all age groups
• Reduced violence and aggression: a reduction in antisocial behaviour and incidence of crime in urban areas with green spaces
• Reduced health inequalities: significant reductions in mortality and morbidity from all causes and circulatory disease are associated with areas of greater green space. This result takes into account the effects of income deprivation
• Increased levels of community activity and residents’ satisfaction
• Improvement in air and noise quality and sustainability (increasing biodiversity, encouraging active transport)
• Economic benefits
Source: Faculty of Public Health

Despite all this evidence, by proposing to remove our green space, it appears to be Bradford District Council’s intention to remove all these health benefits from my local community, knowing from this evidence that the impact of removal of green space will be increased health inequality, increased mortality and morbidity, increased instances of violence and aggression within our community, decreased mental health and wellbeing for our children, reduced air quality, and so on. This knowing removal of health benefits cannot be justified, particularly in the context of Bradford’s known problems with health inequalities and high rates of cardiovascular disease, high rates of diabetes, high rates of childhood asthma, and high infant mortality.

Bradford District Council have said the following in their District Plan (2016-2020): ‘Improving quality and access to green space would enable more people to be active in everyday life, helping to improve the health and wellbeing of the whole population. This will Contribute to several of the Plan’s priority outcomes including ‘Better health, Better lives, ‘A great start and good schools for all our children’, and ‘Safe, clean and active communities’.’

Were these priority outcomes simply paying lip-service to the idea that these outcomes are something Bradford District Council genuinely cares about achieving? If so, why would you consider removing our green space?

I am very concerned about the impact of local air pollution problems on me and my family’s health, and horrified to hear that green space, one of the only mitigating factors we have, is under threat.

The Bradford Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR) (2020) lists our area as an ‘area of concern’ due to ‘elevated NO2 concentration’ in the air. Public Health England said in their 2020 document ‘Improving Access to Greenspace’ that: ‘Air pollution is the top environmental risk to human health in the UK and the fourth greatest threat to public health after cancer, heart disease and obesity.’ But they add that that green space offers some protection against this: ‘In 2017, urban green and blue space in Great Britain removed 27,900 tonnes of 5 key air pollutants’.

If Bradford District Council are taking the need to tackle the local air pollution issues seriously, they would not be building on our green space but would be engaging in additional tree planting on the land.

Many people travel via the green to work, or to the local nurseries, primary and secondary schools and this route provides an active travel route away from the main roads. Public Health England said in their 2020 document ‘Improving Access to Greenspace’ that: ‘providing active travel routes through greenspace all help reduce exposure to air pollution and improve health.’ There are countless numbers of people in the area who would lose this daily active greenspace travel route.

Yours sincerely, Susie Lloyd

Object

Representation ID: 2948

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: S Berrinngton

I think it will be detriment to the existing homes, predominantly owned by families with children. Higher levels of congestion in an already busy area, the negative environment impact on the surrounding area within a short distance to a world heritage site.

Object

Representation ID: 2993

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Soil and Structures Limited

I must declare an objection on the grounds of this area's removal of limit green space within Shipley. I used to walk our dog their regularly.

As a geotechnical consultant I would advice caution at developing this land. As a former quarry site even now with steep slopes, there is likely to be a highly varied bedrock profile and deep fill deposits that will place very high abnormal costs on the below ground works. The practicalities/logistics of developing the site will be very onerous too.

Why have ground constraints been omitted from the screening? I'm working with the British Geological Society to make tools available to local authorities to screen ground risk. Please contact if interested to know more.

Thank you.
Russell Bowman
Soil and Structures Ltd

Object

Representation ID: 3064

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Mrs Tina Sheehy

This is valued open space used by the whole community. Government and local policies show that recreation open space like this is supposed to be protected.
We will lose the benefits of our community’s local green space.
Children play regularly here and would have nowhere else to play. Many dwellings in the neighbourhood have no gardens and the local parks are a long way away involving main road crossings.
It's used for sport/exercise.
Green space helps protect us against local air pollution problems.
People travel via the green to the local nurseries and schools.
We are already an area that has been shown to be deprived of green space.
It was landscaped for recreation in the 1960s and is needed now just the same.
Generations of families have used this space and we need to protect it for future generations.

Object

Representation ID: 3072

Received: 21/03/2021

Respondent: Mr Howard Nash

It is a rare and well used green space between two busy roads, i would much rather see development focused on brownfield sites.

Object

Representation ID: 3078

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Ms molly hall

It's a local green space, we already have too many houses In the village without enough parking.
People need this as a private exercise space. In tourist months Roberts Park is too busy for all local residents to enjoy so this green space is essential.

Object

Representation ID: 3102

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Mrs Kay Bardsley

The council have identified Shipley as an area with a lack of recreation open space (Open Space Audit 2021) . Nevertheless, they are proposing to designate this area of well used recreational green space for housing further reducing the amount of green space in the area. This Wycliffe site has been used for generations for children’s play, sports activities, dog walking and exercise. The council’s own policies espouse the benefits of preserving open green space for people’s health and wellbeing and yet they want to add more housing to an already densely populated area of terraced housing and flats with minimal or no garden space.

Object

Representation ID: 3142

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Mrs Julie Naylor

The area proposed to have housing built on would be greatly missed by the residents of Wycliffe as the children from the flats and surrounding houses all play on there. It's a beautiful area and for visitors to saltaire gives a lovely green space.

Object

Representation ID: 3161

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Mrs Marian Mawson

The small area between Bradford Road and Saltaire Rd is already full of houses, with very small gardens. The roads are very narrow and steep in places, access and parking are already a problem. The air pollution, in this block, from the main roads is already very high. It would make more sense to develop the green area in the centre to reduce the pollution and improve the quality of the area. It would be a nightmare for the residents during any building works because the area is already too closely packed with buildings. Any additional buildings would make a cramped site worse and reduce the light and space for residents and destroy the only green space for residents.

Object

Representation ID: 3170

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Miss Laura MacDonald

This is an important town green, particularly valued by low income families. This sentence says it all. Quality of life matters; we are a developed nation and can give our citizens more than just a roof over their heads and foodbank food. Please, aspire for Shipley and its people: make better what is bad, but certainly at the very least keep what is good!

Object

Representation ID: 3176

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Mrs Lynne Tetley

We need our green spaces. This is such a valuable space. New housing would turn this oasis into a desert.

Object

Representation ID: 3210

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Miss Lucy Carter

Please do not take green space away from us. Every bit of land doesn't need to be covered in houses. You are taking away an area where children can play and people can enjoy. We need green areas in our town.

Object

Representation ID: 3215

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Mrs Jennifer Netherwood

I am objecting because developing this site will have a negative effect on pollution (air and noise) by increasing traffic on an already congested road. It will also deprive the local community of an accessible green space, with a detrimental effect on their physical and mental well-being.

Object

Representation ID: 3238

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Mr Steven Ellis

I object to the removal of the designation of 'Open Recreation Space' on the previous plan
I object to the proposal to designate the land for housing

The proposal is in breach of the NPPF and policy CO1, found elsewhere in the draft Local Plan (2021)
The site is actively used for 'quality-of-life' benefits which the Council promotes
There is a serious shortage of amenity green space in Shipley which this proposal exacerbates
The gain of 44 dwellings is negligible and insufficient to justify this scale of disregard for public opposition and other important Local Authority green space policies

Object

Representation ID: 3402

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Mr Steve Jones

This is a precious resource for the people in and around the proposed site.The children in the Wycliffe flats/Mill View which overlooks the green space treasure this space but so do us residents who live near. This is a safe run-about , sledging and play space for children, a traffic-free cut-through for pedestrians from Shipley to Saltaire. The thought of more homes and more cars (51 properties) added to the chaotic roads., pollution etc is unbearable.

Object

Representation ID: 3558

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Miss Pauline Ford

This is an area of grassed space, suitable for games and play for children, and for recreation for all. It is surrounded by flats with no private outside space and housing with small gardens. It is a precious amenity and should not be sacrificed for the building of further houses, which will increase the people using this area, and completely remove the recreation facilities there already.

Object

Representation ID: 3592

Received: 22/03/2021

Respondent: Mr David Firth

Congestion - this area is already heavily populated. The green space it has is of benefit to the people living there - gardens are small so the open space is important, especially for children. It would be a huge loss to increase the housing density here.

Object

Representation ID: 3802

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Mr Stephen Pope-Carter

I feel this is poor use of green space, given the disproportionaely small numbers of houses planned .
This is valued by local residents in flats adjoining as these do not have gardens for children to play in.

I would be cautious about the ability to add housing that incorporates enough community green space.

What do we know about the previous landfill use?

Object

Representation ID: 3812

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Ms Jude Mawson

This small area of open space is surrounded by densely packed houses with tiny gardens and steep narrow roads. It is totally unsuitable for building development. There are two busy roads to the north and south, which create high levels of traffic pollution and form a barrier for local residents. Building on this block would deprive the local residents of light, and a nearby safe green space. Building on the site would spoil the area, and be detrimental to the health and well being of the local residents. It would particularly deprive the local children and elderly residents of a green safe space close to home.

Object

Representation ID: 3828

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Mr David Carter

- Provides vital green space and parkland to dense housing surrounding.
- Overlooks Saltaire village and Salts Mill which will have an impact on the World Heritage site.
- Covering of natural water soaks, such as open fields, with houses, concrete and tarmac increases the risk of flooding in surrounding areas due to massively reduced ability for rain run off to be absorbed. This is a steep hill with parts of a World Heritage site adjacent and therefore would put the World Heritage site at increased risk of flooding and water damage.

Object

Representation ID: 3990

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Mr Frank Sweeney

I am objecting to the development plans for Wycliffe Road SH3/H.
This space should remain open space for recreation and exercise.
Generations of families have used this space and we need to protect it for future generations.

Object

Representation ID: 4028

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Mr Pete Chambers

This bit of green space is invaluable to those in Wycliffe - it would be awful to take it away. Saltaire Road and amenities, GPs, schools etc. already oversubscribed. Stop filling in the tiny and much needed green spots in built up areas - build a new town with schools etc instead.

Object

Representation ID: 4032

Received: 25/02/2021

Respondent: Mr Adam Lambert

I’m appalled at the planning proposals for SH3/H. The land is much loved by our local community and a source of beautiful calmness in a residential zone bordered by two main roads with traffic issues.
Other vacant sites and derelictions should be reviewed before trying to strip local children, dogwalkers and animal conservationists of their beloved social space.
The fields are used year round and need more tending by the local council. Not more crowded housing in a world heritage site already plagued by traffic congestion.
More housing is needed but focus on lesser areas sorely in need of renovation.
Local residents would be happy to help work with Incommunities and Bradford Council on this matter, and there are many opinions we have lost since Shipley Town Council closed, so please do reach out to locals before committing to this.

Object

Representation ID: 4034

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Miss Kerry Holmes

This is valuable green space used by the community for recreation.