A city council has confirmed that an open space should be protected from development.

Leeds City Council ruled today that Yeadon Banks should be registered as a town green, in line with a recommendation from inspector Alun Aylesbury earlier this week.

The decision means the area cannot be built upon.

Local campaign group Keep Yeadon Banks Green Group (Keybag) and its leader Doug Jones were congratulated by national group the Open Spaces Society(OSS), which had supported the fight for the green. OSS general secretary Kate Ashbrook said: “This decision means that Yeadon Banks is now saved from development. 

“The owner of part of the land, Leeds Group PLC, objected to the registration, along with David Wilson Homes, who wanted to buy the land for development.  Now that it is confirmed as a green, any development there will be illegal.

“We congratulate Keybag and its leader Doug Jones, and Pudsey MP Paul Truswell for their excellent work.  We are delighted that Yeadon Banks has been saved for the community.”

Locals had to prove the land had been used for lawful sport and pastimes for at least 20 years. The inspector and Leeds Council accepted their evidence.

See also Inspector backs campaigners' green-space bid