Ellar Ghyll housing development

Menston Parish Council meeting, Ellar Ghyll development.

I attended the last Menston Parish Council meeting to discuss development proposals for 75 homes at Ellar Ghyll, Menston. I was asked to speak on the issue by the Parish Council at the start of the meeting, and also listened carefully to the concerns expressed by residents who attended the meeting.

Responding to development proposals.

Having spent the better part of 4-years working on objections to Sun Lane, Burley in Wharfedale, I have learned a huge amount about the planning process. Looking at housing applications is to say the least a very emotive topic for most, and that’s a huge barrier when responding to an outline planning application. In this respect, the public are at a huge disadvatage and many do not understand the process and how to effectively respond to applications, consequently, many objections carry little or no value.

Planning applications are complex, responding is similarly complex, and a good response can take weeks to write. The important thing to do are:

• Take a breath and try to take the emotion out of responses. Too frequently, this can be challenging.
• Understand the laws which govern planning applications:
  • National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF)
  • Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended periodically.
  • Ocassionally, you’ll also need to consider the Listed Buildings Act 1990.
  • As we live in the Bradford district, you also need to look at the Core Strategy and the RUDP.
  • There are other helpful documents like Bradford’s Supplemetary Planning Documents (SPD).
• The next thing to do is to look at Menston’s Neighbourhood Plan (under construction) to see how proposals align. The Neighbourhood Plan has to align to the Core Strategy, and Bradford’s forthcoming Regulation 19, which is due at the year end.
  • There could also be other local policies which affect housing.

Next steps.

You will then need to work through the planning application to see whether all criteria in the above are met, and if not, that’s a point to make in your response. My response is attached below.

If you need help and/or advice, please get in touch.