“Our plans for the creation of neighbourhood plans offer a radical change from the ‘Kirklees knows best’, council-imposed development plans.”

Kirklees Lib Dems have also unveiled their proposal for long-term development in the district.

The 14-strong opposition group wants to bring an extra 58 hectares of ex-industrial land into employment use.

Lib Dem leader Clr Kath Pinnock told the Examiner yesterday: “The market for apartments isn’t coming back for a long time, so it would be really good to have small business units within the shell of the old mills.”

The Cleckheaton councillor believes mills on Manchester Road and Lockwood are ripe for redevelopment.

Clr Pinnock would also like to see a large area of Bradford Road between Dewsbury and Batley set aside for industrial use.

She added: “There are numerous disused industrial sites lying vacant and unused across the borough and we want the council to take positive steps to bring some of these back into use.

“More then ever, the council needs to work creatively to attract businesses to our available sites and a package of support and financial incentives we believe can help achieve this, creating jobs for local people, improving the local environment and protecting greenfield land from further development.”

The ruling Labour party and the four-strong Greens are yet to reveal their LDF proposals.

Councillors will decide on the blueprint at a special meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall from 10am on Wednesday.

Campaigners will protest against house-building plans at the weekend.

Save Grimescar Valley has organised the rally at Birchencliffe Cricket Club.

The group opposes the LDF, which could allow developers to build 850 homes on fields.

The rally will take place from 10am to 12.30pm on Saturday.