WHARFEDALE residents have until mid-July to comment on a land allocation plan that earmarks large green areas of the valley as potential sites for development.

Bradford Council has released its draft Land Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) – part of its Local Plan for the district – for consultation.

The Local Plan will eventually be the rule book used for determining new planning applications across Bradford district.

The Land Allocations DPD will determine what land will be allocated for development and which areas of green space will be protected in the period up to 2030.

Similar to past plans, the document shows plots both north and south of the A65 at the western side of Ilkley as potential development land, land off Hardings Lane and Slates Lane to the north of Ilkley, plus large green fields bordering Ben Rhydding to the east as potential development sites.

The document comes as local groups and councillors this week speak at a hearing called by a Government planning inspector regarding modifications to the central Core Strategy of the Local Plan.

The DPD also highlights land to the west, south, east and northeast of Addingham for possible development land, and much of the green land lying between Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston, plus a large plot to the west of Burley.

Bradford Council says no decision has yet been made on which sites will be formally allocated for development.

The plan follows several Strategic Housing Land Allocation Assessments (SHLAA), which included calls for suggested sites for development in the valley.

As well as asking for feedback from members of the public, the DPD consultation again offers companies and residents the option of suggesting new sites for possible development in Wharfedale.

The aim is to allow the development of at least 35,500 homes across Bradford district by 2030, and to meet a requirement set by Bradford Council for 135 hectares of employment land, allowing businesses and industry to grow.

But the local authority's housing need figures, and the availability of brownfield sites elsewhere in the district, are already a point of contention with those seeking to keep development in Wharfedale to a minimum.

Ilkley ward councillor, Martin Smith, criticised the Local Plan process as "flawed".

He said: "It's been acknowledged that Bradford has over-egged the figures. It's a flawed process.

"I'm disappointed the work by the planning department has been so disjointed."

Bradford Council says the Land Allocations DPD will identify sites for a range of uses, such as housing, employment and infrastructure, such as new schools, and will be required to deliver the targets and policies of the emerging Core Strategy.

The current consultation – the first stage of this process – will also seek comments on the proposed approach to how sites will be assessed and how the preferred plots should be chosen.

The council said it is not consulting on how much development is needed or how many homes should go where, as this is already set out within the Local Plan Core Strategy.

Visit the consultations section of bradford.gov.uk to take part, or visit Ilkley Library to see hard copies.

The consultation runs until July 19.