WORK on a controversial Meltham housing development is to start ‘imminently’.

Jones Homes, of Cleckheaton, has announced it is preparing the 2.2-acre site, off Oak Avenue, to build 34 houses.

The site, which will be called ‘Oak Meadows’ will contain a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes, some terraced and some detached.

A sales centre is expected to open in the next few months.

The plan sparked anger after Kirklees Council passed the proposal in secret after initially rejecting it.

The council had been advised they would lose if the decision was challenged by the Planning Inspectorate. Meltham residents had feared the development would stretch the town’s infrastructure and lead to a loss of green field land.

Robert Adams, regional director of Jones Homes (Northern) said: “Following the continued success of Jones Homes developments in West Yorkshire over the last two decades we are delighted to be starting work on what promises to be an exciting site. Oak Meadows promises to be a stunning development with an exciting mix of properties that will appeal to a wide variety of home-buyers.”