Councillors will be told that revised housing plans 'no longer put park and ride at risk'

And the applicants say the scheme will no longer put plans for a major park and ride scheme in the city at risk.

Caddick Land’s proposal for homes off Rooley Crescent, near Staithgate Lane first went before Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee late last year.

Council officers had then recommended Committee members refuse the plans, saying they could interfere with a planned 500 car park and ride scheme that was proposed for a neighbouring piece of land - as it would limit vehicular access to that site.

Shortly before that meeting Caddick submitted amended plans, and the Committee voted to defer their decision until officers had the chance to go over these amendments.

Decision on controversial housing development deferred after last minute amendments

The plans go before the committee again next Thursday - and officers now say enough changes have been proposed to safeguard the park and ride. They have recommended the plans be approved.

The first set of plans attracted 150 objections and a petition signed by 414 people calling for the scheme to be scrapped.

Concerns were raised about extra traffic, impact on wildlife and calls for homes to be built on more suitable sites in Bradford.

The revised plans went back out to consultation last month, and received 97 further comments - many by objectors raising similar concerns.

One suggested there are other things that needed to be done in the area before new houses are built - such as removing graffiti from pedestrian subways.

The Council’s education department has pointed out there were few primary school places available for future children living in the homes.

A report to the committee says the amended plan is for fewer homes on the site - the original plan was for 150 dwellings.

The park and ride bid is a major part of a “Transforming Cities Fund” bid to the Government that could see £80 million spent on a number of traffic programmes across Bradford designed to reduce air pollution. The government is expected to announced if that bid has been successful next month.

The report to the Committee says: “At present it is important to point out that there are no designs available for the Park and Ride Scheme with regards to either the size of the parking area or the likely access route from Staithgate Lane however it is envisaged that it will have a minimum 500 parking spaces but this could increase as more detailed designs are undertaken.

“It is therefore vital that any development on the application site does not prejudice the ability to bring forward the Park and Ride Scheme.”

The revised plans include an access road to the north of the development that will allow both the housing scheme and the park and ride to go ahead.

The report says this change now makes the scheme “acceptable.”

The Committee meets in City Hall at 10am on Thursday March 5.