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Planning refusal is a lost opportunity for Otley

Developer Wharfe Bridge plans to appeal the decision to refuse planning permission to build 60 new homes on the site of the old cattle market.   Wharfe Bridge claims that not only do the proposals improve the flooding situation for the town, they also provide economic and social benefits to the community that can’t be met by an alternative scheme. 

Leeds City Council (LCC) has rejected a planning application by developer Wharfe Bridge to build 60 townhouses, and apartments on the site of the former Bridge End Cattle Market in Otley. Despite the economic positives that would have been brought to Otley should this application have been approved, LCC has insisted that the objection in principle from the Environment Agency (EA) states that flooding is far too great an issue to allow the development to be approved. Wharfe Bridge will be appealing the decision by LCC and will continue to work with its project designers in pursuit of making the development a reality.

With the government’s recent research stating there is a lack of housing in the UK; Wharfe Bridge had proposed to build 25% of the development specifically designed as affordable housing for local people.

From the outset flooding has been acknowledged as a high priority. Wharfe Bridge worked closely with specialist flood risk consultants JBA Consulting, to  guarantee that appropriate flood risk mitigation measures would be incorporated into the development, ensuring that not only the development itself would be protected, but also would reduce flood risk to a nearby residential area. Raising of the site, to above the ‘100 year’ flood level would have effectively blocked an existing flood route that currently conveys water across the site towards Billams Hill and Farnley Lane. Further mitigation works, in the form of lowering ground levels between the river and the development site, would have compensated for the potential impacts of the development, preventing increases in the river flood level. The raising of the site levels would ensure that the development area would no longer sit in the ‘High Probability’ Flood Zone 3. Discharges of surface water from the site would also be controlled to maintain existing rates, using storage within the drainage system, to prevent an increase in flood risk.

The council have raised highlighted traffic and highways as an issue, however the development’s highways scheme was produced in consultation with LCC and clearly showed that its implementation would improve safety in the area.

Bill Hudson, of Wharfe Bridge says: “We are of course disappointed that planning permission for this development has been refused, however some serious time, thought and experience has gone into this project and we are confident that once we can further demonstrate that the flooding has been properly addressed and provides a benefit far beyond the development itself, the appeal will be successful.”

The scheme’s elements would have included a crescent to the south of the site that balances and complements Bridge Avenue.

Links to coverage in the Wharfedale Observer and the Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 

Feedback invited on new Wharfe Bridge development

Wharfe Bridge, who recently announced its plans to build a high quality development of 60 much-needed houses and apartments on the old cattle market site, will this week start a full public consultation. From Thursday 12^th July to Thursday 19^th July plans will be on display at the Civic Centre on Cross Green.

Residents are invited to comment on the scheme both at the exhibition and via the development’s dedicated website www.wharfebridge.com. Representatives from development company Wharfe Bridge will be on hand to hear people’s views on Monday 16^th July from 11am to 6pm.

Comprising townhouses and apartments with a 25% allocation of affordable housing, the plans also include a café and improved access and facilities for the Otley Show. As well as ensuring the design is fitting for the location and in keeping with the heritage and spirit of Otley, the prevention of flooding has been given the highest priority, with a design that improves the flood risk both for the site and the surrounding residential areas.

Bill Hudson of Wharfe Bridge says, “We are very interested to hear the views of local people about our proposals. So far we have taken expert advice on all the issues and have designed a solution that we are confident provides a great new opportunity for the future of Otley. We are providing high quality housing, alleviating flooding and improving facilities. The public consultation will inform how the plans are taken forward.”

ENDS

For more media information contact Wolfstar on 0113 259 3694:

Susie Lawrence 07803 605119 or susiel@wolfstarconsultancy.com

Stuart Bruce 07852 135456 or stuartb@wolfstarconsultancy.com

Notes to editors:

The site was in use as a cattle market for over 100 years until it ceased to operate five years ago. The buildings associated with the old Cattle Market were large industrial sheds that fell into a state of disrepair and were demolished leaving the site as predominantly concrete hard-standing.

Full details of the planning application including flooding, highways and planning statements are available from Wolfstar. Computer generated images are also available from Wolfstar on request.