A former abattoir at Sun Side Farm, Denholme Gate, could be transformed into 11 homes.

Bradford Council planners will today discuss a planning application for the site on Halifax Road.

The proposal is to convert vacant buildings into housing and build a new garage block and access road.

Ten homes would have two bedrooms and one would have three bedrooms.

A council report said the site was on an open and exposed upland green belt area close to the Calderdale border at Ogden.

At present there are several large commercial buildings, including the former slaughterhouse and agricultural sheds.

The area, although in the green belt, was not within a conservation area and contained no listed buildings or protected trees. Two letters and a petition signed by 12 people have been sent to the council supporting the proposal.

The petitioners believe housing would have less impact on the local area than industrial use or a smelly and noisy abattoir.

They fear that an empty site would become an eyesore attracting thieves and vandals, which could affect neighbouring properties.

The application will go to Shipley Area Planning Panel today then — because it departs from the unitary development plan — to the council’s regulatory and appeals committee.

Planning officers want the panel to recommend refusal.

They say the main issues include the principle of developing within the green belt, location and sustainability, protection of employment land, local amenities and highway matters.