Inquiry over 770 Leeds homes bid

A public inquiry will be held to decide if permission should be granted for 770 new homes in Leeds.The developer behind the scheme at Dunningley Lane in Tingley launched a legal appeal after planning consent was not granted by Leeds City Council.The Sir Robert Ogden Partnership appealed to the Planning Inspectorate for a decision on the scheme, which includes new houses and a convenience store at the former Tingley Station.Morley Town Council objected to the planning application and has applied to take part in the public inquiry.Coun Robert Finnigan, who chairs the town council’s planning committee, told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “If we are granted this status it will allow us to attend the inquiry and cross examine both Leeds City Council and the developer about this proposal and put across the views of local residents.“We believe this application for over 700 houses will overwhelm local schools, roads and health centres.“Although the site is not in the town council area it is on the border and will have a significant impact on those residents within the town council’s boundary.”Coun Finnigan said the town council was successful in challenging planning applications at Cottingley Springs and Tingley White Bear at previous public inquiries.The city council and developer would be represented by a legal team and barrister advocate at this inquiry, Coun Finnigan said.He added: “Although we do not have the legal resources of large developers or Leeds City Council, on both previous occasions we have convinced a Planning Inspector to refuse appeals to grant planning permission for either development.”

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