RESIDENTS are opposing plans to build a new 64-bed care home in a residential area on the site of a fire-damaged 19th Century villa.

A ward councillor who has also objected to the Ben Rhydding scheme - claiming it is not a suitable location for business use - is unable to speak at a decision-making Bradford Council committee meeting today as she is a member of the committee.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) objected to the plans for the site of Wheatley Lawns, Clifton Road, believing the plan would be determined by Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel.

But the application by Ideal Care Homes is instead going before the Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee.

Standing orders mean she will be unable to get involved in the decision as a member of the panel, because of a conflict of interest.

Her place will instead be taken on the committee by fellow independent councillor, Adrian Naylor, who Continued on page two Continued from page one represents the Craven ward.

Coun Naylor will also be allowed to debate a planning application on 38 houses at The Acres in Addingham, which has also been recommended for approval by officers.

Coun Hawkesworth hopes Ilkley residents will be there to state their case against the care home plans.

She said: “This site is surrounded by large detached individually-designed houses in spacious gardens. To introduce employment on this scale into such an area is an inappropriate use of the site which ideally could be used for dwellings to be taken into account and be included in the areas quota for new housing.”

Coun Hawkesworth, who also criticised the design of the propsoed building, was among those who called for Wheatley Lawns - demolished in 2012 - to be saved, after the Grade II Norman Shaw building was badly damaged by fire several years earlier.

A number of residents have objected to the care home plan, claiming the commercial development would change the character of the site, which is currently designated for residential use.

Ilkley Parish Council had also objected.

But in a report due to go before the committee, Bradford Council planning officers say the redevelopment of the site as a care home is considered a “beneficial reuse of a vacant, well located site that gives the opportunity to provide a sustainable pattern of housing/economic development within the existing urban area of Ilkley”.

They are asking for a number of conditions to be imposed.

Officers are also recommending the approval of a 38-home housing development at The Acres, and asking for 11 affordable homes to be a condition of granting planning approval. Objections to this plan including concerns about impact on the roads, and the pressure for places at local schools.