A BATTLE to save Aireborough green belt was taken to the Royal Courts of Justice in London this week.

Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum is challenging Leeds City Council’s Site Allocations Plan which they claim will “delete” four valuable green belt sites.

Writing on the forum’s website ANDF Chairwoman Jennifer Kirkby said: “We are not against house building, we are not against house building in Aireborough – we know that the area needs specific types of smaller, well designed and affordable properties; our work on the Neighbourhood Plan has told us that.

“But, the Leeds Site Allocation Plan (SAP), will not deliver what is needed; not for housing, not for infrastructure and not for our green environment which needs to be regenerated in line with its ecological value as part of the South Pennines landscape.

“In addition, the Leeds SAP has not been put together, as is required by law, in conjunction with local people. A huge number of representations from local residents were against the plan on the grounds of both current sustainability issues and how plans would exacerbate these.”

A judge has already rejected an attempt to stop the case going to court, when Leeds City Council and two developers argued that the forum did not have the legal standing to challenge the SAP.

Ms Kirkby said: “Their claim was refused in court last December, with our designation as a Neighbourhood Forum being deemed to have no bearing on the matter. Which means that we have won the right for local groups all over the UK to properly challenge decisions that they feel are unjustified and not evidenced. A right for more democratic accountability in which Aireborough people have played a part.”

Ms Kirkby thanked everyone who had helped with crowdfunding, donations and support since the appeal was launched in July 2018. More than 1,500 residents have made donations or given support.

After the original crowdfunding appeal was launched, a Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “We recognise that people care deeply about their local area and understand there will always be concerns about any new proposals. However, the government-appointed independent inspectors concluded that the Site Allocations Plan is sound, legally compliant and provides an appropriate basis for planning the city.”