Plans to establish the principle of housing at a site in Pudsey will be decided by councillors next week.
Developers want to build housing on a 5.5-acre site near Owlcotes Reservoir on Owlcotes Road, which comprises former Yorkshire Water land owned by Keyland Developments and land owned by a private individual.
If the principle of housing and access to the site is approved by members of the south and west plans panel next Thursday (27 August), developers will return with a detailed planning application which will decide design and the number of houses.
Initial plans for the largely empty site include a mix of affordable and market housing with one to four-bedroom apartments, semi-detached and detached homes.
Developers say the site is ‘highly sustainable’ with good transport links to Leeds and Bradford.
A planning officer’s report recommends approval in principle, subject to a raft of conditions including a £96,000 payment towards Highway improvements at Outer Ring Road junction with the A647 (Dawson’s Corner). It also limits the number of properties on the site to a maximum 77. The report concludes:
“The development will provide an acceptable quantum of affordable housing, with a
safe and adequate means of access.“It is considered that the principle of developing the site for residential purposes is acceptable in terms of all local and national planning policies subject to the imposition of conditions and a legal agreement. With consideration being given to all other matters, the application is recommended for approval.”
To date 13 objections have been received from local residents. Objections include the loss of view, privacy and loss of light to gardens of adjacent properties, sustainability and the loss of greenfield land.
The application has been submitted by Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, under a Planning Promotional Agreement (PPA) with a local landowner.
Pudsey councillors Simon Seary and Trish Smith have objected to the application as well as Calverley & Farsley councillors Amanda and Andrew Carter.
The Dispatch first reported the proposals back in February.