Developer loses appeal for Bronte Country site

Housing plans for a green belt site in Bronte Country have been refused for a second time after the developer appealed against the planning inspector's original ruling.

Earlier this year, Bradford Council refused an application for nine homes on land off Moorhouse Lane in Oxenhope, submitted by the trustees of the Holmes Family Trust of 2017.

Council planning officers said the development could cause harm to the land, which is close to the South Pennine Moors Special Protection Area, a protected natural habitat.

The applicants challenged the decision, saying the council's reasons for refusal were "unsubstantiated" and applied for the costs of the appeal to be paid for by Bradford council.

The application said there were "significant benefits in bringing the site forward" and that it would "contribute to the vitality of the village", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, government inspector Chris Mayes dismissed the appeal, as well as the appeal for costs, arguing more evidence would be needed to show there would be no impact on wildlife.

"Residential development of the type proposed could result in the loss or deterioration of land that supports qualifying Special Protection Area bird species outside the designated site boundary," he said.

"A net increase in dwellings is also likely to increase recreational use of the sites, with potential effects including disturbance to breeding birds, trampling and erosion of sensitive habitats, increased fire risk and dog fouling."

The plans had been seen as an early test of the recently introduced "grey belt" planning policy, which applies to green belt land that is previously developed or makes a limited contribution to the core purposes of the green belt, allowing for sustainable development under strict conditions.

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