Planning Permission for an Industrial Estate at Scott Lane in Morley was refused by Leeds City Councils Plans Panel yesterday when Councillors unanimously voted to throw the application out.

 Morley Borough Independent Councillor Robert Finnigan, who attended the meeting to speak out against the planning application said, “I am delighted that the campaign to keep Scott Lane green has finally succeeded. We commenced battling with the developers in 2003 when the proposal was first raised and Morley Borough Independent Councillors have continued to campaign throughout the last four years to achieve this result.”

 The Plans Panel was told that Planning Permission had been granted in 2004 but changes to

planning guidance from Central Government now meant that planning permission should not be renewed.

 Morley Borough Independent Councillor Judith Elliott said “The new guidance says that industrial estates should be located in town and city centres and that release of greenfield sites is not appropriate while other industrial land, such as Howley Park, remains available.”

 Planning Officers also told the Plans Panel that there were additional concerns about the increase in traffic levels should the application go ahead.

 Cllr Finnigan said, “There was consensus across the board that an industrial estate at Scott Lane was unacceptable. Local residents and Morley Borough Independent Councillors all agreed that this was a greenfield site worth defending. We will continue to watch Scott Lane closely to make sure any future planning proposals are also rejected.”