Development of the Former Airedale Mills – Planning Update 18th June 2022

The saga of the planned development at Rodley on the former Barker’s site (referred to in papers as Airedale Mills Rodley) next to the Reserve entrance continues.

• The original outline planning permission required the developers to maintain an ecology buffer along the banks of the river as a wildlife corridor along the River Aire.
• For an ecology buffer to achieve its purpose, it needs to be near continuous and undisturbed by public access to give adequate shelter to wildlife.
• It is now apparent that many of the trees in the buffer zone are scheduled to be removed or trimmed, including the 2 magnificent Weeping Willows, and a path created near the river.
• If carried out, this would undermine the whole purpose of the zone which among other things is known to be used by otters.
• Not only do the trees currently form part of an ecology buffer, but they also provide a screen for the Reserve which will shield its wildlife from disturbance caused by the sight of day to day human activity in the development and help dampen noise from it.
• The Trust has already made several comments criticising the developer’s application, some appearing under individual names and others as the RNR Trust, and will be commenting again on these latest plans.
• Additional comments and reactions to the proposals from our followers would be useful in ensuring damage to wildlife is minimised.
• Comments don’t need to be lengthy, but should concentrate on the importance of the Ecology Buffer area for wildlife using the River Aire corridor – the impact on local wildlife and Rodley Nature Reserve which will result if the plans, as they stand, are carried out.

Any other comments you wish to make may be useful. Details of the cat-proof fence they are supposed to install have not been produced by the developers, as far as we can see. (Follow the links below to read what others have said).

How to Make Comments and Objections

Objections to Proposals: Details of exactly what the developer is planning are shown in 5 papers posted on the planning site on 29th June, notably the Arboricultural Impact Assessment – these papers are complex and confusing and sometimes contradictory but the general intentions are clear ( see screen shot below).

To make objections you can consult: