Silsden farm shop plan refused over green belt concerns

Plans to build a farm shop and cafe on the edge of a West Yorkshire town have been refused, with planners saying it would go against green belt policy.

Silsden butcher Isherwood's had applied for permission to build on land next to the Keighley Road golf driving range.

But planning officials recommended the proposals be rejected as they would contravene two major planning policies.

All members but one of Bradford Council's Keighley and Shipley Planning Panel voted to refuse the application.

The authority had received 908 letters of support for the proposals and 32 objections, the panel was told.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Jo Steele, representing Isherwood's, said the company had been looking for larger premises in the town for decades, but no free units were available.

Speaking in support of the plans for the site, which was currently a car park, Silsden councillor Adrian Naylor argued there were "special circumstances" meaning the proposals should be given the go-ahead.

Hundreds of homes had been built, or were due to be built, in Silsden in the coming years, Mr Naylor said.

Meanwhile, Chris Herd, Conservative councillor for Worth Valley, the sole member of the committee to eventually vote in favour of the application, said: "I can't help but feel we'd miss an opportunity if we didn't support this. We represent the people and there has been a lot of support for this."

"It is the opportunity to improve a gravel car park. Someone is wanting to invest and create jobs," he added.

However, planners said the proposals went against a major policy preventing development in the green belt and another discouraging businesses opening in out-of-town locations.

Isherwood's plans could draw people out of Silsden town centre, they said.

Planning officials also raised concerns about the increased traffic turning onto and out of the site on a busy road.

Arguing against the plans, Labour councillor Sinead Engel, chair of the committee, said: "This site is in the green belt - I don't think we can get past that.

"It is a waste of time arguing over highways issues when there is still the main reason for refusal."

Ms Engel added: "We might say this business would sound like it's a lovely place to do some shopping or have an afternoon tea and look out at the view.

"But the reason we have green belt policy is to protect these views and sites for future generations."

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