BRADFORD Council has been set 'homework' by a Government planning inspector after hearings examining modifications to the Core Strategy of its Local Plan.

Councillors and representatives of Wharfedale campaign groups and organisations spoke at the hearings in Saltaire last week, raising concerns about flooding risk in the valley and the impact of increased housebuilding figures for Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston.

The week ended with planning inspector, Stephen Pratt, asking the authority to do some homework on a key flood risk assessment document and send it on to him in the coming days.

Hearings were called to examine the changes made by Bradford Council officers to the central Core Strategy of the Local Plan – the rulebook for planning and development across the district, which will remain in use until 2030.

Modifications included hundreds of additional proposed new homes increasing existing figures for Wharfedale, despite the concerns of residents about further development in the flood-prone valley.

The council made the changes after its figures came under attack from a consortium of developers during Core Strategy hearings in front of the same inspector last year.

Top planning barrister, James Strachan QC, again spoke on behalf of developers at last week's hearings, succeeding in getting the council to revise wording in the Core Strategy regarding Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) rules.

Dr Steve Ellams, of Wharfedale and Airedale Review Development (WARD) and Menston Action Group (MAG), fears this could open the door to more extensive development in green areas bordering the edge of Rombalds Moor.

But he was heartened by the strong case put forward by Wharfedale residents at last week's hearings, and felt the inspector had listened carefully to local concerns.

He said: "The representation was very good.

"I think the inspector couldn't be anything other than impressed by the numbers. He certainly was very attentive and certainly very aware of the situation.

"He said he travelled up and down on the railway – he covered the area pretty well. He did it by road, he did it by rail, and he was very aware of the flooding and drainage issues."

Among those who spoke last week was Professor David Rhodes, who carried out an extensive flood risk survey on behalf of MAG, and recently presented a novel solution to flooding in the valley – using Rombalds Moor to soak up and slowly release rainwater – during a talk in Menston.

Prof Rhodes' talk, which was posted online, has attracted attention from researchers and groups from as far afield as Australia.

As the wait now begins to find out if the inspector accepts Bradford Council's modifications to the Core Strategy, the local authority has begun a public consultation on land allocation for development. This plan, which marks green fields across Wharfedale as potential sites for development, can be found via the bradford.gov.uk website.