150 villagers attended the public meeting held on 11 January to listen to the proposals contained in the LDF Core Strategy Document for Wilsden. In response to requests the Parish Council has produced  key points that may be used in your response to Bradford, together with details on how to respond and links to further information.
Key Points

• Wilsden has no need, in the next 16 years, of another 300 houses. A great number of houses have been built in the village over the last 30 – 40 years.

• There should be a presumption of no building on any greenfield sites, nor any designation of greenfield sites for future development until all brownfield sites in the BMDC area are exhausted.

• BMDC has already identified 5-7 years worth of building land, so there is no need at the present time to identify any new sites.

• Extension of the village from its current boundaries into the greenbelt would lead to Wilsden losing its village identity and becoming contiguous with neighbouring settlements. This is against the policy stated in the Landscape Character Assessment of Wilsden.

• All the projected new housing could be accommodated on land already identified within the city centre region. This would be in accordance with the Council’s stated strategy which is to build sustainably where transport and jobs exist.

• The current infrastructure in Wilsden and the neighbouring villages cannot cope with more houses and there is no guarantee that the community infrastructure levy  generated by additional houses will improve this situation.

How to send in your comments

If possible Bradford would prefer comments to be submitted electronically. The Comments Form  can be found at http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/the_environment/planning_service/local_development_framework/core_strategy_preferred_options_stage

Comments can also be sent by post (Local Development Framework Group, Freepost NEA 11445, PO Box 1068, Bradford, BD1 1BR) and fax no. (01274 433676) or can be handed in at Bradford Keighley & Ilkley Planning offices.

Comments need to be submitted by 20 January 2012.

Further information

The Core Strategy Development Plan Document, together with the Landscape Character Assesment and the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment together with all the supporting documentation currently available can be found at http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/the_environment/planning_service/local_development_framework .

The future of Wilsden: The Local Development Framework and you!

You may or may not be aware of a number of developments that are currently taking place with regard to regional planning and the way in which the planning approval framework is likely to change.

In line with Government direction Bradford has started to prepare a new plan called the Local Development Framework.  This sets out the way in which Bradford will approach development and planning until the year 2028.  Currently it has the most important document out for consultation: the Core Strategy Development Plan Document.

As its title suggests it is a strategic document, to be flushed out with more detail in the forthcoming months.  Four geographic areas have been identified, the City (including Shipley and Lower Baildon, Airedale, Wharfedale and South Pennine towns and villages, mainly to the west.  Wilsden is positioned in the last group.  Each area is looked at from the point of view of Housing, Environment, Economy and Transport.

It is estimated that Bradford will need 45,000 additional homes during the period covered by the LDF.  It is proposed that the larger part of this number will be located in existing urban centres but all sub-areas have been allocated a target.  Wilsden is required to take an additional 300 houses.

The Core Strategy does not indicate in detail where these houses should be built.  Under changes to the planning approval process brought in by the Localism Act (2011) Parish Councils are advised to produce a Neighbourhood Development Plan which, whilst it cannot challenge the number of houses that is eventually decided upon by Bradford, can influence where they are built and what they might look like.

The Parish Council wishes to ensure that all villagers are aware of the proposal contained in the Core Strategic Development Plan and intends to call a public meeting in the near future so that a response can be made to the LDF team and so that a neighbourhood development plan can be kick-started.  If you care for your village and want your voice to be heard come along to the meeting.

The Core Strategy plus much supporting documentation can be found at http://bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/the environment/planning service/local development framework