Bradford Metropolitan District Council has issued an enforcement notice ordering the demolition of illegally built holiday homes on a 500-year-old woodland in West Yorkshire and the replanting of 300 trees after a Turkish firm cleared the protected habitat.
A significant enforcement action is unfolding in West Yorkshire regarding a 33-acre ancient woodland known as Jacobs Hill Farm in Silsden, near Keighley. The Turkish agricultural firm Azara Gid San purchased the site for £1.05 million two years ago.
The company now faces directives from Bradford Metropolitan District Council after it allegedly cleared hundreds of trees from the 500-year-old woodland to construct holiday lodges, septic tanks, and access tracks without obtaining planning permission. The council has issued a formal enforcement notice demanding the restoration of the site to its prior condition, which includes the replanting of 300 trees to compensate for the loss of the protected habitat.
The woodland is recognized for its rich ground flora and its role as a sanctuary for protected species, including bats and breeding birds. The notice specifies that five large concrete pads, four of which now have holiday homes, along with four septic tanks and an access track, were installed over the past decade.
Additionally, stockpiled earth and aggregate are cited as unauthorized. The council asserts that the development has harmed the openness of the Green Belt, diminished the Airedale Landscape, and negatively impacted the biodiversity of the South Pennine Moors Special Protection Area. The authority has set a six-month deadline from March 3 for reversing all land changes and mandated that 300 trees be replanted by March 2027 to repair what it describes as the "irreplaceable" woodland.
The council's actions follow the discovery of the "unauthorised development" in February 2024 and the imposition of a Temporary Stop Notice in September, which prohibited further works. In response, Azara Gid San has appealed the enforcement notice. The company asserts it is an "innocent party" and claims all construction work was completed before it acquired the property, thereby making the development "immune" due to the passage of time.
Their planning consultant, Sam Dewar of Dewar Planning Associates, criticized the council for misinterpreting planning policy and for being "extremely disappointing" and "very aggressive" in its approach. He stated they are willing to negotiate a solution but feel the council has not been forthcoming.
The appeal also highlights that the holiday accommodations complement existing permitted lets on the land and support the local economy, especially following the Bradford City of Culture 2025 festivities, which reportedly increased regional demand for holiday rentals. Meanwhile, wildlife advocates have condemned the deforestation. Penny Hunt, Co-Founder of Yorkshire Dales Wildlife Rescue, emphasized that ancient woodlands are "incredibly special" and "absolutely irreplaceable," providing vital, secure habitats for wildlife whose populations are already in a precarious state.
Property records from Carter Jonas Estate Agents indicate the farm was sold two years ago, with listings referencing other properties on the land but omitting any details about the extensive works. Database searches suggest Azara Gid San's primary business involves the production and export of cooking items like olive oil and spices in Turkey, raising questions about its involvement in UK property development.
The council's spokesperson confirmed that the assessed development unequivocally requires planning permission and that the enforcement notice is a necessary measure to protect the area's environmental and landscape value
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