Former green belt land in Otley looks set for development because of the housing crisis in Leeds.
Land at Rumple Croft in the market town was taken out of the city’s green belt nearly two decades ago under the Unitary Development Plan.
Over the years Leeds City Council has fought to defend these sorts of sites.
But appeals which have been overturned by Government Planning Inspectors have landed the council with significant legal costs because they have ruled that the council does not have a five-year supply of available housing land.
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Now in a pre-application report to the council’s Plans Panel West officers have stated that it is “acceptable in principle” to develop the greenfield site on the Weston Estate.
The report states: “Members will be aware that the Council attempted unsuccessfully to defend at appeal a number of refusals of applications for housing on Phase Two and Phase Three Greenfield UDPR sites (although this was not one of those appeal sites).
“On each occasion, the Inspector considered that the five-year supply of available housing land in the Leeds area fell demonstrably short and that the release of the site would not have any marked effect on regeneration prospects.
“Substantial costs were awarded against the Council in respect of these appeals and the Council’s Executive Board subsequently resolved that it would not seek to resist development of Phase Two and Three Greenfield sites as a matter of principle.
“Officers are therefore of the view that the development of this site for housing is acceptable in principle although there are significant matters of detail to resolve.”
The panel, which meets today, are asked to note that the site is required to deliver 35 per cent affordable housing.
Developers Taylor Wimpey are set to present their ideas to the panel before submitting a formal planning application.
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