Council to consider whether to include 37 green belt site in final SAP plans

A document set to go before the councillors next week claims the “healthy” number of sites currently under construction, as well as uncertainty around Covid-19’s effects on housebuilding, mean the council will have to determine “whether there is a need” to include the 37 green belt sites it had originally included in its long term housing plans.

It follows a decision from the High Court last month, which ruled the inclusion of green belt sites on the council’s Site Allocations Plan (SAP) would have to be removed from the plans and sent back to the government for approval.

If all 37 sites were taken out of the council’s submission, this would potentially mean thousands fewer houses would be built on greenfield sites across the city in the coming years.

The SAP – a council document outlining sites where future housing and commercial developments should take place over the coming years – was adopted by Leeds City Council in July 2019. This is required by every local authority in the country, as it demonstrates whether each area is able to meet government targets for the building of the new houses likely to be needed in future.

However, a legal challenge to the SAP from the Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum claimed there was an “error of law” relating to all potential green belt housing sites across the city.

This resulted in the High Court ruling last month that all 37 sites in the SAP that were previously in the green belt would be considered as “not adopted” and sent back to the government and planning inspectorate for further examination.

Councils are required to have enough capacity to build houses over the next five years – this is known as a five-year land supply. Council officers claim Leeds still met the required land supply as, even without the 37 green belt sites, there are still enough sites in the SAP for another six years.

Their report claimed the current state of housebuilding in the city was “healthy”, adding: “Building control returns reveal that there are over 100

outlets operating district-wide with more than 5,000 individual plots actively

being built across all markets and locations.

“There is a total stock of almost 29,000 new homes with planning permission reflective of the greatest level of outstanding capacity in over a decade. In addition, the Government’s recent announcements including increased permitted development rights for new housing may further boost the picture of supply.

“At this stage it is too early to tell what the impacts of the pandemic will be on the supply and delivery of housing. Whilst construction inevitably slowed during the lockdown months there are signs that this is now quickly recovering and Government has put in place measures to stimulate the house building sector.

“All these factors will need consideration in order to determine whether there is a need for any or all of the Green Belt allocations listed in the schedule.”

The report claimed Leeds City Council would now “update its evidence base”, and decide if any changes need to be made to the plan, including whether any or all of the 37 sites should be taken out of the final submission to government.

It added: “The effect of the judgement is to revoke the adoption of 4,070 new homes across 37 sites.

“In some instances, it may, however, be the case that individual developments in specific contexts are able to demonstrate very special circumstances for development in the Green Belt, and therefore acquire planning consent in spite of no longer being allocated and being returned to the Green Belt.”

The council expects to conclude this process within six-to-eight weeks. New proposals would then be sent to government for approval.

Which sites are on the list?

All addresses are followed by the proposed housing capacity for that site.

New Birks Farm, Ings Lane Guiseley – 160

Wills Gill, Guiseley – 133

Victoria Avenue, Yeadon – 102

Hollins Hill, Hawkstone Avenue, Guiseley – 80

Red Hall Playing Fields, LS17 – 50

Colton Road East, Colton – 17

Wood Lane, Rothwell Garden Centre – 31

Barrowby Lane, Manston – 150

Alwoodley Lane, Alwoodley – 302

Dunstarn Lane, Adel – 68

Broadway and Calverley Lane, Horsforth – 18

Horsforth Campus – 134

Horsforth (former waste water treatment works) – 53

Wetherby Road, Scarcroft Lodge, Scarcroft – 100

Breary Lane East, Bramhope – 87

Wood Lane, Rothwell Garden Centre – 52

Bullough Lane, Haigh Farm, Rothwell – 222

Alma Villas, Woodlesford – 12

Land between Fleet Lane & Methley Lane, Oulton – 339

Swithens Lane, Rothwell – 85

Main Street, Hunts Farm, Methley – 25

Micklefield Railway Station car park – 18

Ninevah Lane, Allerton Bywater – 65

Whitehall Road, Harpers Farm – 279

Churwell – 223

Albert Drive, Morley – 121

Sissons Farm, Middleton – 222

Thorpe Hill Farm, Lingwell Gate Lane, Thorpe – 57

Long Thorpe Lane, Thorpe, Wakefield – 17

Old Thorpe Lane, Tingley – 207

Land at Moor Knoll Lane, East Ardsley – 11

Calverley Cutting, Apperley Bridge – 32

Woodhall Road, Gain Lane, Thornbury – 196

Daleside Road, Thornbury North – 89

Waterloo Road, Pudsey – 28

Dick Lane, Thornbury – 206

Tyersal Road,Pudsey – 33

Land off Tyersal Court, Tyersal – 46