By John Baron
Residents attending a public meeting over potential green belt development have been urged to register their opinions in a public consultation.
More than 100 people made it standing room only at New Farnley Community Centre last night. They discussed four possible development sites in the Farnley/New Farnley area, which are being consulted on as part of the Leeds Local Plan.
Sites include:
- An estimated 408 properties at Lawns Lane, New Farnley.
- Estimated 53 houses on land at Gildersome Lane.
- An estimated housing capacity of 298 for land west of Ochre House Farm, Wood Lane, East of Harper Farm/Harper Farm Cottages, Whitehall Road.
- Land to the north and south of Gamble Lane, Farnley, has been proposed for up to 354 properties (photo below).
As reported by WLD, views are currently being sought on the Leeds Local Plan, a legal framework that will set out Leeds City Council’s vision and strategy for sustainable growth up to 2042.
The plan will guide how land will be used and developed. It influences planning decisions to ensure any developments meet the needs of the community and the environment.
A range of potential sites included in the consultation have put forward by developers, landowners, residents and others. They are not suggestions or endorsements from the council but were put forward in a ‘call for sites’ that the council must evaluate to see whether they are suitable for development.
The meeting was organised by concerned local residents, and meeting chair David Cartwright said: “This meeting is not about party politics, it’s about unity. We need to come together to save our greenbelt.
“Leeds City Council have said they do not want to build on greenbelt land. They have said this a few times but I am not sure I believe them. The Government is now putting pressure on them to put housing on green belt land.”
Councillor David Blackburn (Green, Farnley & Wortley) said the proposals for sites came purely from local landowners or developers.
“It is really important that you comment and that the planning officers who evaluate the sites so they have the evidence in front of them about why these sites should be protected,” he told the meeting.
“At the end of the day Leeds City Council have to make available so many houses to meet increasing demand. It is important we all submit comments. The majority of land needed is already there as brownfield sites. I beg you – please, please, please comment so we can fight in council for you.”
The meeting was also attended by Leeds South West and Morley MP Mark Sewards (Labour), whose constituency includes Farnley & Wortley ward. He urged people to take part in the consultation.
Mr Sewards expressed frustration that the process had ‘not been explained properly’ from the start and stressed that sites had been proposed by either landowners or developers.
He said he was elected last year with Labour’s manifesto to build 1.5 million new homes and supported that aim, but said potential development sites needed to be suitable.
He also said he supported the government’s upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will accelerate the delivery of housing and infrastructure and introduces new Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs) to guide local plans, set infrastructure priorities and identify key sites for development. The bill is going through the House of Lords with amendments.
But Mr Sewards said about the Leeds Local Plan: “I will represent your views. In this process I am on your side.
“West Leeds and South Leeds do seem to have more sites than North Leeds. That does frustrate me – we all must take our fair share.”
He urged people to use non-emotive language when filing comments and to focus on planning issues such as local infrastructure and access. He also asked people to also email him with their comments so they could help form his own submission to the council.
Potential development sites in the plan are graded green (few issues to prevent development) through to yellow, orange and red (many issues to prevent development). The meeting heard it would be good to get some of the ‘yellow’ developments turned to ‘orange’ or red to make development more unlikely.
Residents also heard a Facebook group – New Farnley Planning: Save our Greenbelt – has attracted more than 530 members and that leaflets encouraging people to comment were being circulated throughout New Farnley and surrounding areas.
Attendees echoed concerns about poor communication about the plan, and were encouraged to get involved in small groups, including research, publicity and leaflet deliveries.
A further meeting about the Leeds Local Plan will take place with council officers and Cllr Adrian McCluskey (Lab, Farnley & Wortley) at New Farnley Community Centre on Tuesday, 9 September at 5pm.
- The Leeds Local Plan consultation runs until 15 September 2025. The on-line portal can be found by visiting the website.
- A list of proposed development sites in inner and outer West Leeds can be found here.
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I also found this site under consultation too:
https://leedslocalplanouterwest.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/v3/LPS00287?step=step1
They want to turn this greenbelt field into industrial land! Please can you post an article? Looking at the site its called “Land East of Temban Fabrications Ltd, Holbeck” but its on Geldard Road (beyond the ring road, not really holbeck, more Churwell/Morley). But right next to West Leeds.
I think because of how its named its not getting any attention, its only had 4 people comment, other sites have had hundreds. The site even confirms its greenbelt too.
Its great WLD is helping to protect the Greenbelt. Well done!
They seem to be targeting West Leeds, The Greenbelt sites even if submitted by others should be Red by default, not Green and Yellow. Please help spread the word on this other site and also let your friends at South Leeds Life know about this too because its on the boarder with them.
Residents are urged to refer to The New Farnley Village Design Statenent.
Approved and adopted by Leeds City Council in 2013. This document is a ‘supplementary planning document’
Therefore any proposed planning applications will need to consider the comments and concerns raised the document.
Wow. Thousands of comments left across west Leeds…
Inner north west – 751
Inner west – 1244
Outer North West – 11927
Outer West – 3965
Huge concerns from residents – usually there isn’t this level of response to a LCC consultation, the council must now listen and councillors and local MPs must step up even further to ensure that happens. We must protect our greenbelt, it’s not ours to give away!