By John Baron
Initial outline plans to build up to 24 homes at a former sewage works off New Road Side, Horsforth, have been refused by council planners.
Access to the former Yorkshire Water treatment works site would have been via Rein Road, close to the Kirkstall Forge development, plans submitted by Horsforth-based Stonebridge Homes stated.
The applicants argued the proposals ‘respected’ the site, and added: “The site is a realistic and deliverable prospect for residential development, and its development will bring landscape, biodiversity and social benefits.”
But Horsforth Town Council objected amid concerns over the access from the main road and the need to respect important long and mid-distance views. There were ten individual objections, plus general comments from Cragg Hill & Woodside Residents’ Group.
A council planning officer’s report shared some of the concerns and said the proposal was ‘inappropriate development in the green belt’. It concluded: “…It is considered that the proposal fails to comply with both national and local policy and refusal is recommended.”
On access, the report added: “The Local Planning Authority considers that the proposal would result in an intensification in the use of a substandard access and proposals have not been put forward that would mitigate the harm that would occur to both vehicle and pedestrian safety.
“As such the proposal would increase the potential for road safety hazards in the vicinity of the site to the detriment of highway safety.”
The full council report can be viewed in full here.
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