More must be done to keep two cities apart, public meeting is told

MORE NEEDS to be done to protect Green Belt sites to keep two cities separate, a public meeting heard.

Concerns were raised over plans for new homes between Leeds and Bradford over the next decade at a public hearing yesterday.

It was the first day of an inquiry into Leeds City Council’s revised site allocations plan.

Andrew Carter, leader of the city’s Conservatives, said more detail was needed on how to protect Green Belt areas. He told the hearing at Leeds Civic Hall: “That is a strategic Green Belt separating two great population centres, and this is very important. No mention has been made of any discussions on this with the city of Bradford.”

The site allocations plan sets out the possible locations for future housing between now and 2028.

Leeds City Council’s executive member for planning Richard Lewis said: “The city council recognises the importance in having certainty over what gets built where.

“We must protect our Green Belt from unnecessary developments.

“We need to consider specialist housing needs. We need to take a responsible approach to housing growth. We are confident that we have submitted a comprehensive plan that meets all legal requirements. It can all be part of a legacy we can be really proud of.”

The plan received more than 50,000 public comments during consultation, all of which have been passed on along with the revised plan to the Government inspectors as part of their considerations.

The hearings at Civic Hall are expected to last for about three weeks.