Opposition is mounting to controversial proposals to infill the historic Greenside Tunnel railway cutting in Pudsey, ahead of plans for housing on the site.
More than 300 objections have been received to the proposals to completely fill in the railway cutting, submitted by developers EP Homes ahead of a future planning planning application for housing on the site. The cutting, off Carlisle Road, was partially filled last year.
Objectors include Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew and all three Pudsey councillors, who are concerned about the loss of a piece of Pudsey’s history and the impact of heavy goods lorries travelling through Pudsey to the site.
Sustrans, the national charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle, has also opposed the plans.
It says the infilling would stop it being used for the future Greenside Greenway scheme – a walking and cycling route linking Pudsey, Tyersal and Leeds with Bradford and onward to the Spen Valley Greenway.
‘No significant impact’
EP Homes wants to fill the void under the nearby Carlisle Road Railway Bridge and build a retaining wall in front of the eastern entrance of Greenside Tunnel, which would not be filled in.
They say the site works ‘will not have a significant impact’ on the adjacent road network.
A heritage statement submitted with the application says the site is not within a conservation area and insists neither the tunnel nor the railway bridge would be physically altered. It concludes that the value of the assets which would be affected is “low”, saying the tunnel would be “not lost, but no longer visible”. It adds:
“There are no designated built heritage assets within the site. Therefore, development will not have any direct impact on any nationally important built heritage assets.”
A planning statement by the developers adds that the scheme adheres to council planning policies:
“The scheme will enable the subsequent best use of the site, through providing a number of new homes, which will assist in meeting the housing requirement for Leeds and within the local area. The ability to commence site preparation works as soon as possible will accelerate this housing delivery, along with the economic and social benefits of new homes.
“Other material considerations, including noise and dust and ecology, have been fully considered as part of the scheme design and the proposals will ensure there are no adverse impacts in terms of those detailed matters, subject to appropriate mitigation.”
The plans can be viewed in full – and commented upon – here. The deadline for comments has been extended by a fortnight.