Flats plan held up by cricket balls can go ahead

Sport England warned that future residents could be at risk of injury from flying cricket balls

A major housing scheme paused over fears about future residents being hit by cricket balls from a nearby club has finally been given the go-ahead.

Developers were granted permission in 2021 to convert Aire Valley House, at Crossflatts near Bingley, into 139 flats - once Sport England was satisfied people would not be struck by balls hit by batsmen at Crossflatts Cricket Club.

The planning wrangle was highlighted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in March when he was discussing his push to shake up the planning process.

Sport England said it was now satisfied with "ball stop mitigation" plans for the site, including netting, and Bradford Council has said the scheme can be completed.

Following submission of the initial plans, the sporting body warned that a risk assessment had underestimated the power of some of the players' shots, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, the organisation has now said that high fencing proposed between the cricket ground and the flats would be sufficient to protect residents and the property.

"The applicant has now provided a plan showing the location and specification of the proposed ball stop mitigation," Sport England said in a letter to the council.

"This also includes details of how the ball-stop mitigation will be managed and maintained."

The fence, if properly maintained, would "be enough to prevent injury to people or property", the organisation said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voiced concerns about the development being held up

The prime minister used the delay to the scheme as an example of how bureaucracy can hold up development.

During a speech in Hull in March he said: "There's an office conversion in Bingley, which as you know, is in Yorkshire. That is an office conversion that will create 139 homes.

"But now the future of that is uncertain because the regulator was not properly consulted on the power of cricket balls.

"That's 139 homes. Now, just think of the people, the families, the individuals who want those homes, to buy those homes to make their life and now they're held up."

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