90 affordable homes are being built on land in Bierley

Vistry Group is building 90 affordable homes on land in Bierley, on the opposite side of Bierley Lane to Armadale Avenue.

When the Telegraph & Argus visited the construction site, which sits beside a grass football pitch, the structures of many of the houses were already in place.

A view from Bierley Lane of the Woodlands Edge development (Image: T&A) The development, being built in collaboration with social enterprise Places for People and Bradford Council, is set to be finished at the end of next summer and will be known as Woodlands Edge.

The name reflects its proximity to Bierley Hall Woods, which owes much of its character to the landscaping and planting carried out by the Richardsons, a gentry family, in the 18th century.

Places for People said existing pedestrian connections will be improved, and work will be undertaken to enhance nearby woods, which include the popular Bierley Ponds.

The fence shows the line between the Woodlands Edge development and Bierley Hall Woods (Image: T&A) A spokesperson for Vistry said: “Vistry is proud to be delivering real progress at Woodlands Edge, Bierley Lane.

“This 100 per cent affordable scheme is helping to meet the rising demand for housing in Bradford, thanks to close collaboration with Bradford Council, Places for People, and a wide network of delivery partners – from construction teams to local colleges and schools driving social value.

“Every home is being built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), placing the site at the forefront of innovation and sustainability.

The Woodlands Edge development viewed from a stile beside a nearby football pitch (Image: T&A) “On track for completion by the end of summer 2026, Woodlands Edge is a blueprint for how councils, housing associations and developers can come together to deliver high-quality, sustainable communities.”

The scheme was granted planning permission in 2023 after an earlier plan for 100 homes on the site had been withdrawn.

A number of objections were raised at the time, with some critics fearing that the Bierley area had seen too many applications for new housing in recent years, and others saying the area could not cope with the extra traffic.

The Woodlands Edge development in Bierley (Image: T&A) The site, described as ‘urban greenspace’, had been included in Bradford Council’s draft Local Plan as being suitable for housing.

The new homes will include a range of two- and three-bedroom houses, offered in affordable rent and shared ownership tenures.

It has previously been stated that the development was expected to create 144 full-time construction jobs and almost 180 supply chain jobs across the build period.

As part of its commitment to social value, Places for People is working closely with local schools and colleges to provide site visits, toolbox talks, and work placements, as well as supporting local schools’ initiatives.