COUNCILLORS are warning plans for 500 new homes revealed this week will halve the gap between Burley and Ben Rhydding.

CEG will be unveiling details of the development, for land off Ilkley Road to the west of Burley-in-Wharfedale, during a two-day public exhibition next week.

Proposals include a new primary school, allotments and open space areas along with "high quality and characterful housing", which CEG says would feature a variety of sizes, types and prices.

Taking place at the Queen's Hall in Burley, the information event will run from 3.30pm to 6.30pm on April 15 and from 10am to 1pm the following day.

Burley Parish Council chairman, Councillor John Grimshaw, believes the scheme is unacceptable, and would set a "dangerous" precedent.

He said: "We are aware of this and of a number of proposed developments around the village as developers vie to try to get a slice of the allocated land.

"Our stance is that we're still defending the 200 new home limit that was produced by the last Government planning inspector.

"We are very much concerned about the possibility of Burley and Ilkley merging, and we want to defend the integrity of the two communities, which a development like this would threaten. It would also take a huge bite out of the greenbelt."

Cllr Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) said: "This illustrates vividly the danger to the valley.

"This scheme halves the gap between Burley and Ben Rhydding. If another development transpired along Coutances Way, we would merge.

"It could be the start of a persistent jigsaw of building sites along the valley – a disaster. We could finish as 'anywheresville' instead of beautiful Wharfedale. The object of the greenbelt is to stop that eventuality.

"There needs to be a change to the National Planning Policy Framework to stop that happening, and a 'brownfield first' clause should be reintroduced."

Concerns have been voiced online, too, with Fiona Burton's post on the Ilkley Chat Facebook page typical of the mood.

She said: "Infrastructure and services are at breaking point already.

"What is the point of greenbelt land if councils and developers can just run roughshod over the legislation?"

CEG head of planning, Steve McBurney, said: "We’ve identified a suitable and sustainable site, which provides the opportunity to deliver 500 of the 700 new homes Bradford Council's Local Plan identifies for Burley.

"This enables us to also deliver an outstanding new primary school, allotments and other extensive areas of accessible green space onsite, as well as financial investment into secondary education, healthcare and recreational facilities and public transport improvements."

Hundreds of additional new homes have been included for Wharfedale communities in Bradford Council's still-to-be-approved Local Development Plan Core Strategy.

Campaigners, however, are hoping those targets will be cut back following fresh hearings next month.

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@nqyne.co.uk or write to the Content Editor, Ilkley Gazette and Wharfedale Observer, 38 High Street, Skipton BD23 1JU. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.