Labour’s candidate for Adel and Wharfedale, Mark Henley, is backing Leeds City Council’s campaign to restore the requirement to build on brownfield sites first, to protect the green belt. 
The dropping of this requirement by the Tory-Lib Dem government in new planning rules introduced in 2012 has led to a “developer’s charter”, encouraging a flood of applications to build on greenfield sites throughout Adel and Wharfedale.
In Bramhope, Miller Homes aims to build 380 houses, which would increase the population of the village by a quarter, changing its character completely.
According to the chair of Bramhope Parish Council, “This has all the hallmarks of an attempt to bypass the consultation carried out last summer by Leeds City Council”.
Even when houses are being built on brownfield sites, such as the David Wilson Homes development at Bodington Hall in Adel, these are luxury 4/5 bedroom houses costing £450,000–£700,000, when the greatest need is for affordable homes for first-time buyers, those in work on average pay, those unable to buy, and a growing elderly population seeking homes for independent living.
None of the developers’ proposals addresses these needs.
Mark, along with Adel and Wharfedale Labour Party, have been working alongside local groups campaigning and objecting on a range of local proposals – e.g. in Cookridge, and Bramhope.
Labour’s Core Strategy in Leeds includes a strong policy of using brownfield sites, including a target of 65% brownfield sites for the first 5 years of the plan.
We’ll continue to work hard to ensure that the LibDem/Tory Coalition’s NPPF doesn’t derail this aim.
You can contact Mark by email – markhenleylabour@outlook.com or by phone – 07503 185841
Adel and Wharfedale Branch 