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

Object

Representation ID: 29801

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Ilkley Civic Society

This land is owned by Bradford Council and proposed development of it has been challenged repeatedly over many years because the council directly benefits from it, both in terms of capital and ongoing council tax revenue, post development. It is extremely valuable as green belt because this location, for visitors arriving by road or rail this site is the first real view of the open countryside of the Dales and Ilkley Moor since leaving the West Yorkshire cities. It provides the sense of arrival at a special place, with views towards the heather moors of the Cow and Calf rocks and across and up the dale.

The primary reason advised by Bradford Council that it has been selected for housing is that it has good transport connections. That is questionable. Bus services are poor especially early in the morning. Train services are limited to services to Leeds and Bradford. Ilkley has one main road through it. The road is prone to river flooding both east and west of the town and run-off can put the centre of Ilkley under several inches of flowing water.

Drainage
The fields are poorly drained and the bottom section floods. Despite extensive works some 20 years ago, the main storm drain down Wheatley Lane is again above capacity in wet weather and it is reported that the basements in the terraced houses can flood.

Any changes to drainage arrangements may impact the continuing landslide which has affected the Wharfedale railway line for many years and is still being monitored by rail engineers following extensive work some years ago by the contractors May Gurney. Building on the Coutances Way site may impact the natural drainage as it will increase run-off.

It should be noted that the new garden centre on Coutances Way still has drainage issues to be reconciled as a condition of its planning permission.

The site is within the 2.5km HRA boundary for both Ilkley Moor and Nidderdale AONB. The fields concerned regularly hold curlew (red list species) in good numbers. Swifts, swallows and house martins may be found in good numbers although they are diminishing elsewhere in Ilkley. In winter, migrant and native thrush species are in residence. The trees provide roosts for many woodland margin species, including owls and great spotted and green woodpeckers. Migrant swans and geese rest in the fields. No bird box scheme will suffice to mitigate against the loss of such species. Deer, badgers and bats frequent the area.

Additionally, part of this site is already allocated to a Park and Ride car park, but it is not clear whether or when this is going ahead or how much space it will take up.

Access to the site is to be from Wheatley Lane thus increasing the number of vehicles travelling to Ilkley via Bolling Road or Valley Drive or accessing the A65.

Out of town residential developments such as Coutances Way are so far from retail facilities, services and schools that residents will need their own cars whether or not they drive to work.

Comment

Representation ID: 29802

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Ilkley Civic Society

This small site is surrounded by housing and is in the conservation area. It is close to a Scheduled Ancient Monument, Ilkley Old Bridge, and is sufficiently near the Roman Fort site to require archaeological survey for the Roman Road leading to the ford over the river and possible remains of a vicus (Roman civil settlement).

There is some disagreement as to the boundary of this site and this needs clarifying. Does it include the church car park?

Object

Representation ID: 29803

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Ilkley Civic Society

Housing Need and Requirement

We feel strongly that NO decisions should be taken about housing until after the Pandemic is over and commercial life revives. The plan including the core strategy were conceived and established during the period before either Covid 19 or Brexit became the main economic factors in the UK. Until the pandemic crisis is over and some economic stability is regained, people will not know where they want work and live, how much they will need to travel, how much they can afford on housing or the type of housing they need.

The emphasis at present should be on ensuring progress in building all those homes which already have planning permission, in order to meet current demand.