Site allocation 1255b Banksfield Coppice Wood

The Public Consultation for the Leeds Local Plan Site Allocations for housing, green space, retail and employment,  will start the week of 22nd September and run for 8 weeks, to the 16th November 2015.  This is an invitation from Leeds City Council for formal representations from the public and community groups,  to identify which site allocations they support and the reasons why sites may be unsuitable, based on specific sustainability factors.  The comments made, need to be specific, and judged in terms of the Government’s tests of soundness i.e.

Are they consistent with National Planning (NPPF) requirements?
Have the Plans being positively prepared?
Are the Plans Justified?
Are they Effective?

For example – It may be said on Coach Road site 2163a – that it is designated special landscape area, and therefore goes against the NPPF requirement 17 with regards landscape character.   On Ings Lane site 3026 – the site fulfils green belt purpose of ensuring the settlements of Guiseley and Menston do not merge.  On 1255b Banksfield – it fulfils green belt purpose by keeping land open and preventing urban sprawl, therefore neither of these sites are consistent with planning requirements.

A copy of the letter about the consultation from Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Board Member for,  Regeneration, Transport and Planning is here.

This is the last chance for the public to comment on the plans, before they are sent to a planning inspector, who will hold a formal hearing in early 2016, with a view to final approval.

If approved, a large amount of land will be taken out of Aireborough’s green belt, particularly around Guiseley, and Queensway, and developers will be free to put forward plans to develop the sites: there is interest already in many of the sites. The consultation is also a chance to influence the type of housing that might go on these sites if approved – although there will be more chances of doing that after approval of the Leeds Local Plan.

Site allocation 1221 Nether Yeadon

HOW CAN I MAKE MY COMMENTS?

Leeds are asking respondents to complete an on-line comment form with a set format and questions – although letters and email will also be accepted.  The ANDF would encourage both, but stress they need to make specific points, rather than general views.

WHERE DO I FIND THE INFORMATION ON SITES ?

All Aireborough sites have been assessed by Leeds City Council on

• sustainability factors (eg school, roads, access to green space)
• green belt reviews (all Aireborough sites except Coach Road Allotments are green belt)

This information, together with maps, will be made available on the City Council’s web site, libraries and Council One Stop Centres.   However, the Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum will ensure that all the data is available via this website. We also have a full library of planning evidence specific to Aireborough which we have collected over the last year for the neighbourhood plan – which you will find here in our reference section.  This gives a wealth of information on Aireborough that can be used to judge the ‘sustainability’ of all the sites, and whether they fulfil the five purposes of green belt .

THAT’S A LOT TO UNDERSTAND, IS THERE ANY HELP?

We will be helping people through this consultation, using all the neighbourhood planning data, evidence and research we have gathered – more  information to follow in the next couple of weeks.   However, you may like to start by looking at the data Leeds have gathered on sites you are interested in – you will find an overview here with maps and site numbers;  then the details of the site sustainability and green belt assessments Leeds have used to make their decisions are here,  listed under the site number.  You will then find an initial view of each site,  done by local people as part of the Forum’s work on the Neighbourhood Plan here – we will be improving these.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH LEEDS PLANNING OFFICERS ABOUT THEIR AIREBOROUGH HOUSING SITE ALLOCATIONS

Site allocation 4020 Hollins Hill

On 23rd September 2015, Leeds Planning Officers will hold a drop-in session at Guiseley Methodist Church, between 2 – 8pm, to explain their thinking and rationale behind the allocations, including the major urban extensions for Ings Lane, and Wills Gill/Banksfield; plus other housing development at Coach Road, Hollins Hill, Gill Lane, Nether Yeadon, and Rawdon.

This is a key opportunity to talk with the planning officers about the details of each site and give them your views on the site allocation plans for housing, green space, retail and employment. We cannot express this strongly enough. Please tell your friends and neighbours, about this event.

If you cannot make this date, the timetable for other drop-in events around Leeds is here although they will not be Aireborough specific.

AIREBOROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT FORUM EXHIBITIONS

In addition to the Leeds Council drop in on 23rd, The Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum, is also planning small exhibitions at various location around Aireborough. If you would like to host one of these exhibitions for your neighbours, in your area, and have a suitable location in mind, let us know on aireboroughnp@gmail.com.  You can also email us for advice: it is vital as many people know and understand what is proposed and why so they can respond in the most effective way.

HOW CAN I HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Please be proactive in talking with friends and neighbours and alerting them to this consultation,  this website and the Aireborough Voice Facebook page.  Too many people complain they didn’t know, after the ‘event’.  We will be producing a media pack of leaflets and posters, for you to give out in your locality

If you can help improve the site sustainability reports that we have started for each site, please let us know on aireboroughnp@gmail.com

We raise funds for the Forum through Local Giving – we need funds for the pop-up exhibitions, and for printing materials – leaflets, posters, and research forms.  You will find our Local Giving account here https://localgiving.com/charity/aireboroughdnf