Campaigners fight plans for homes near reservoir

Campaigners are raising funds to fight plans to build 300 homes near a beauty spot in Bradford.

Keepmoat Homes has applied for outline planning permission to build on agricultural land next to Chellow Dene Reservoir in Allerton.

But the Friends of Chellow Dene group warned the proposed development would be "unbelievably bad", with negative impacts on wildlife and traffic in the area.

Planning documents submitted as part of the application said the scheme would have a 10% biodiversity net gain, resulting in an improvement to the natural habitat, while the impact on the highway network "is not considered to be severe".

According to Keepmoat, the site constitutes "Grey Belt land" and does not strongly contribute to the Green Belt, meaning there is no "strong reason" to refuse development.

Following the government's pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes by 2029, the so-called Grey Belt is now prioritised for development where housing needs cannot otherwise be met.

Keepmoat said there was "a clear unmet need for housing within Bradford [...] which this site could help towards meeting".

Of the 300 homes, 105 would be classed as "affordable".

"We don't want a development on there at all," said Saleem Shahid from the Friends of Chellow Dene group.

Shahid, who has lived in Allerton for 18 years, and other local residents have raised more than £2,500 through sponsored walks, door-to-door fundraising and donations to hire a solicitor to fight their case against the plans.

More than 2,500 people have also signed a petition calling on the development, which would span 12 hectares of land, to be halted.

"A lot of the objections are really valid," Shahid said.

"A lot of people cherish Chellow Dene, they love it and they absolutely don't want it to be built over."

According to its website, Keepmoat wants to build "a new sustainable neighbourhood that is sensitively integrated with the local context".

But Shahid said there was "no chance at all" the group would budge on their position, adding: "There's lots of Grey Belt areas where they can build."

Councillors are expected to decide on the plans in the coming months.

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