A housing developer has moved to allay concerns raised by ward councillors regarding proposals for new housing in Cullingworth.

Commercial Estates Group (CEG) has this week clarified details of its plans for houses and industrial units on the 38-acre Manywells Industrial Estate.

Proposals were discussed by Cullingworth Village Council earlier this month, when members expressed fears about the potential number of new homes.

They were also concerned for the future of a wildlife area on the site, the effects on tenants of existing industrial units and pressure on already-congested local roads.

CEG spokesman Steve McBurney this week told the Keighley News he could not specify the number of new homes or commercial units as plans are still being prepared.

He did state tenants of existing industrial units will be offered the chance to occupy the new units. And one option for the wildlife area – home to rare orchids – would be to move it to another part of the Manywells site.

Mr McBurney added: “It is CEG’s intention to progress the redevelopment plans at the end of 2013. “The reuse of this predominantly brownfield site will mean greenbelt sites around Cullingworth will not have to be built on in the future.”

CEG plans to hold a public consultation about its plans next month, to be followed by an open forum hosted by the Village Council. As part of its Local Development Framework, Bradford Council says 250 new homes should be built across several Cullingworth sites to meet housing needs.

And Village Council chairman, Councillor Jacqui Guy, said she hoped the development at Manywells would not concentrate too many houses in one location.

She added: “We’re not against development, but it needs to be in keeping with the setting – there should be some sensitivity in terms of rural areas.

“There are an awful lot of houses coming up in three small villages – Cullingworth, Denholme and Wilsden – with no thought of infrastructure.”

New proposals would replace plans, approved in 2010 by Bradford Council, for mixed-use on the site, including 60 homes, a 50-bed nursing home and 107,500 sq ft of industrial development.