A PUSH for more housebuilding in Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston has been a focus of an ongoing hearing by a planning inspector over the proposed Core Strategy of Bradford Council’s Local Plan.

Developers keen to minimise restrictions on building in the prime Wharfedale village locations have been working together in the public inquiry, held in Saltaire, to represent their interests.

While representatives of Wharfedale campaign groups, civic societies and parish councils have been arguing for the need to protect the green belt and avoid putting further pressure on the infrastructure, there has also been a push to have Burley and Menston recognised as local growth centres.

Planning Inspector Stephen Pratt is holding the inquiry to examine the Core Strategy Development Plan Document of Bradford Council’s Local Plan, which sets out the central policy of the district’s new rule book for development until 2030.

Campaigners in Wharfedale celebrated after initial housing targets for the valley were dropped from more than 3,000 new homes to 1,600 in the most recent Core Strategy draft.

Some had hoped to persuade the planning inspector that the local and district-wide housebuilding requirements should be dropped further. But there are now concerns among those opposing major development that the inspector may agree to focus on desirable locations such as Burley and Menston as likely spots for providing new homes.

Housing developers have hired London barrister James Strachen QC to represent them in the hearings.

“Representatives of Menston Action Group, Wharfedale Alliance for Sound Planning (WASP), Ben Rhydding Green Belt Action Group, Aireborough Neighbourhood Planning Forum, Ilkley Civic Society, Addingham Civic Society, Addingham Parish Council are among those to have spoken at the inquiry, which is due to go on until March 20.

Member of WASP. Jackie Thompson, who analysed housing need studies and claimed figures have been over-estimated, also spoke at the hearing this week.

She said: “We still have a way to go on this. Developers will probably try to argue that numbers need to be increased because of economic factors and housing market signals. But we will continue to challenge them. People across the district know without being told that the local economy is struggling and that in many areas property prices are stagnant.”