Due to recent planning changes introduced by the Government it looks likely that precious green belt across Keighley and Ilkley is already under threat. Cllr Rebecca Poulsen (Worth Valley) has brought attention to plans to build nine new houses off Crossfield Road in Oxenhope on a green belt site.
The developer is seeking 'permission in principle' (PIP) – a planning rule recently introduced by the Government that intends to speed up housebuilding, this is rather than a full planning application.
Under the new rules, developers can apply for permission to develop on a site without having to provide the details full planning applications usually require. The PIP rule only applies to developments of nine or fewer homes.
Once developers have PIP they have to submit an additional application with more details. But whatever the outcome of the subsequent application, the site would still have permission for development.
Councillor Rebecca Poulsen has criticised the Oxenhope application and the new PIP process. One of her principle concerns is that in a bid to speed up the planning process, the new rules only give residents 14 days to object.
Cllr Poulsen said: “There have only been 14 days for comments which means those who are on holiday and the village council which meets monthly are excluded.
“This is a green belt site, and no exceptional circumstances have been demonstrated to permit development.
“In order to consider exceptional circumstances for green belt development a detailed planning application should be the mechanism used, not the PIP route, as the green belt is outside of the settlement boundary of the village.
“It acts as a wildlife corridor, with numerous species including deer, that travel the length of the valley and use this as a habitat.”
