It was third time lucky for a developer who got the go-ahead to build new homes in Skelmanthorpe.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes secured consent for 85 houses on grazing land north of Commercial Road.

Meanwhile housing plans for Cleckheaton divided councillors with one thrown out and the other approved.

The Skelmanthorpe plan had twice been deferred by Strategic Planning Committee to give the developer time to address the low affordable housing offer, with councillors saying they were “fed-up” with developers trying to avoid making a proper offer.

The plan came before the committee for the third time this year and was approved with Clr Steve Hall, chair of planning, saying: “This has been looked into with a fine tooth comb by officers, negotiations have been taking place and it is a good deal that we’ve got.”

Instead of the usual 30% of floorspace offered for affordable housing, the developer was offering just 12.5% After holding out, negotiations saw the affordable housing offer rise from 12 units to 15 then 18 before Thursday’s meeting.

Clr Andrew Pinnock asked for a break down in affordable housing and was told the 18 units represented 21% of the total number, to be split between social rented and intermediate housing, which is cheaper housing at first sale that can be re-sold at market value thereafter.

Clr Graham Turner, committee and local ward councillor, was the only member of the seven-strong committee to vote against it saying they “need to make a stand” as it didn’t meet policy.

But he was out-voted by his six colleagues - Clrs Steve Hall, Andrew Pinnock, Donal Firth, Donna Bellamy, Terry Lyons and Carole Pattison - who approved the application.

Resident Philip Grosvenor said there had been little change yet the application still “fails the council’s criteria”, asked how flood water can be stored on a gradient and told councillors to “have courage and refuse this ridiculous application”.

Helen France criticised the lack of public viability assessment, slamming the “cloak of secrecy” adding: “This should never have been allowed through the planning office door”.

Robert Halstead, on behalf of applicants, said the developers had followed council protocol on dealing with viability.

Mark Jones, of Barratt and David Wilson Homes, welcomed Yorkshire Water’s confirmation that they had no objection to drainage proposals.

In the same meeting, housing plans for Cleckheaton divided opinion.

Two applications were considered by Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee with one thrown out and the other approved.

Gemma Close and Strata Homes Ltd wanted consent for 39 houses on land off New Lane.

Kirklees planners recommended it be refused, saying it was urban greenspace and the loss was outweighted by any benefits.

Overall 118 letters of objection were submitted to the plans and the Spen Valley Civic Society complained.

Resident Peter Robson said there “seems to be a land grab in North Kirklees” and feared there would be a “knock on effect if it gets the go-ahead”.

Clr Andrew Pinnock, committee and local ward member, said the site had never been allocated for housing adding: “If we start losing sites like this the Cleckheaton area will be the poorer for it and it will give the green light to other people wanting to nibble at bits for our urban greenspace”.

It was unanimously refused by the seven-strong committee.

In a second application for the town, Swift Properties sought consent for a proposed residential development of 114 houses on brownfield land at Cleckheaton Mills, Bradford Road. Councillors were told it was a vacant site which had been marketed for employment use since 2011 with no interest, as such housing for brownfield land was acceptable and Kirklees planners recommended it be approved.

Clr Carole Pattison, committee member, said: “In contrast to the last application it’s really good to see brownfield being used.”

It was approved unanimously.