Ref: PDW03193 HMCA\Topic:

Subject: Site in the plan

Site: HG2-10 - Gill Lane, Yeadon LS19

Agree with proposed use? No

Soundness

Consider the plan sound? No

Test of soundness addressed: Positively prepared Effective Justified Consistent with NPPF

Changes required to make sound: This site should not be considered for housing as the local area, transport and services simply cannot cope with more people. City Council are just going to make the area a ghetto which people will not want to live in if this over-development continues.

Leeds should be concentrating on brown field sites around the city, These may be more difficult to develop but the house building companies will still take up the sites if this is all they are offered and the Council will have the backing of its residents for this action.

Issues

Issue: Ecology/Landscape/Trees The site consists of open pasture / farmland which has never been developed and the land is in use by a local farmer. The site contains many ancient trees - beautiful horse chestnuts and hawthorn which are covered in blossom in spring - and hedgerows and sadly is the only open green land between Rawdon / Henshaw and along the A65 road. It is a breath of fresh air in what has sadly become a completely built up area due Leeds City Councils planning policies which have generally ruined the area by over-development. The fields provide a home for wildlife including foxes, deer and owls - all of which I have seen myself.

Issue: Conservation and heritage This site should have been included in the recently formed Nether Yeadon conservation area which is borders as it historically linked with the unique pre- industrial revolution development of the area. Historic backed the local people's demands that the area should be included in the conservation area and preserved.

Issue: Greenbelt This is greenbelt land and should remain so otherwise there will be continuous development along the A65 road linking separate towns / hamlets. Greenbelt land in general should not be taken for further housing when there are so many brown field sites available. By offering this site to developers are giving housing companies an easy and cheaper option which will enable them to make bigger profits and then walk away leaving the local residents to suffer a poorer quality of life. Green spaces in the city are essential and Leeds has a poor record of preserving them. The Council could show its willingness to consider the quality of life for its residents by preserving all greenbelt sites.

Issue: Local services Too many houses have been built recently in the Guiseley / Rawdon / Yeadon area already. The area is becoming overdeveloped which is reducing the attractiveness and heart of the local community.

Issue: Schools Local services cannot cope with increased population. As a local school governor I can say that we are already full and this is after a reorganisation and expansion. Further along the A65 the original plans for the development of High Royds included schools but these were shelved and the developers did not have to make this contribution. Leeds City Council should not let the developers get away with increasing their profits in this way to the detriment of the local residents. In our school expansion plans the Council were incredibly late in sorting out the additional capacity required and in discussions they had taken no account of all the building / development which had already taken place in the old "Aireborough" district never mind any proposed developments which was completely ludicrous. If further houses are built new schools will be required and yet more land will be taken. Additional traffic also increases dangers for local walkers and children walking home from school.

Issue: Highways and transport The A65 road is already gridlocked and not just at peak travel times. It has become notorious around the city for delays and hold ups and the increased traffic from further development will make the situation so much worse. This road cannot copy with the current level of traffic never mind any more.

The train service also cannot cope with increased passengers numbers for people commuting to work in Leeds and . I catch the train to work from Guiseley and I have to catch the train before 7am in order to get a seat. With a new station opening at this autumn travelling will only get worse. Increasing the local population will therefore force people to use their cars which will be a terrible result for "greener" travel and will ruin the area.

Legal compliance

Consider the plan legally compliant? Don't know

Legal compliance issues addressed:

Local Development. Scheme Statement of community involvement Duty to co-operate Consultation of statutory bodies

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act Sustainability appraisal Town and Country Planning Regs

Comments on legal compliance: n/a Future updates

Take part in public examination? Be informed of submission to examination? Be informed of adoption of the plan? Submitter details Agent details Ref PDP03343 Ref Title Miss Title Forename Joan Forename Surname Usher Surname Address 1 Chalfont House Address 1 Address 2 Apperley Lane Address 2 Address 3 Nether Yeadon Address 3 Town Leeds Town PostCode LS19 7DY PostCode