PLANS to build over 100 houses on a former school playing field have been approved after nobody objected to the development.

The field next to St John’s Primary School near Bierley has not been used as a sports field for a number of years, and earlier this summer Bradford Council submitted a planning application for 106 homes to be built on the site.

The application that was approved this week was only an outline plan for the development, off Shetcliffe Lane, but says that the finished development would likely have around 25 two bed houses, 58 three bed houses and 23 four bed houses.

Large housing applications tend to attract large numbers of objections, especially if they are to be built on green fields.

But with this application the council received just one representation from the public, calling for more clarification into a tree survey included in the application.

It meant the application was decided by planning officers, and did not have to go before a planning panel.

Sport England had initially objected to the plans, due to the fact that it would lead to a loss of playing fields.

However, the planning report says because the fields have not been used within the past five years, consulting with Sport England was not a statutory requirement.

The national sports body says the scheme would be acceptable if the Council were to provide a similar facility at the proposed Wyke Manor Sports Village. They called for a condition on the application stating no house should be occupied until an alternative pitch at Wyke Manor has been installed.

That planned development, at the former Wyke Manor School site, is set to include both indoor and outdoor sports facilities.

In the planning report, officers say the Council remains committed to the sports village plan, and that it will include new sports facilities that will offset the loss of this playing field.

But officers said they would not impose a condition on the planning approval, saying: “Sport England’s comments are noted but it is not intended to impose that condition as it is unreasonable and could prevent the site coming forward for development in the near future. The Council has made a commitment to bring forward the former Wyke Manor School site.”

Education officers consulted on the plans said that while neighbouring St John’s Primary is full, there are numerous other primary schools with spaces, including St John’s CE, Bradford Academy, Newhall Park, St Columba’s Catholic, Knowleswood and Ryecroft Academy. There are also spaces available at Tong Leadership Academy - a local secondary school.

One condition of the approval is that each house on the development include an electric vehicle charging point.

In their decision document, planning officers say: “Bringing forward the application site will help meet the housing needs of the Council who currently do not have a five year housing land supply.

“The scheme provides a residential development on a greenfield site which is acceptable and presents no concerns with regard to residential amenity and highway safety.”

A more detailed application, including house designs, will have to be submitted before the development can proceed.