The fight to stop 41 houses being built on a Huddersfield beauty spot has failed - after an 18 year battle.

Clayton Fields Action Group chairman Jonathan Adamson went to the High Court over affordable housing contribution, viability assessment, boundary and procedural complaints at the controversial eight-acre site which lies between Edgerton and Birkby.

Property management company Prospect Estates, and developers Paddico, had won planning permission to build 41 houses after a successful planning appeal to the Secretary of State last June.

The developer thought Kirklees was taking too long to determine its application and planning inspector Matthew Birkinshaw subsequently ruled in its favour.

Their planning advisors Weightmans said; “The latest planning court victory now paves the way for delivery of the new homes as part of a sympathetic modern scheme, which includes extensive public open space and footpaths.”

Weightmans’ head of planning law, Lee Gordon, said: “I’m delighted for the clients who have worked tirelessly throughout the planning process to address local concerns.

“The claim was scrutinised by a senior London planning judge (sitting in Leeds) who held no error of law had been made and that the inspector was perfectly entitled to reach the decision he had.

“New housing developments are often contentious, but the case demonstrates the high hurdles that claimants face when seeking to challenge well prepared applications and well reasoned planning decisions.”

John Lund, chairman of Prospect Estates, added: “We are very pleased that the judge has upheld the decision by the independent planning inspector to grant planning permission at our site.

“The scheme will deliver much needed housing as part of a sensitively designed scheme which has followed extensive consultation with Kirklees Council and local residents.”

Now that this legal challenge has been overcome it seems nothing can now prevent the development of mainly four-bedroom, detached houses from going ahead.

The action group had fought a marathon legal battle that lasted 18 years.

At one point the campaigners thought they had won when the land was designated a village green, a decision backed by the High Court.

But the landowners refused to back down and took an appeal to the Supreme Court which ruled in their favour in February 2014 - after which the plans were submitted to Kirklees Council.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman said: “It’s a sad postcript to a battle that we all fought.

Public meeting on hospital shake-up at John Smith's Stadium. MP Barry Sheerman arrives at the meeting.

“I don’t know if there are any more challenges. The latest action seemed to be a valid attempt to improve the scheme given that it had been given outline planning permission.

“It’s a lovely village green and was designated as such but people with money and influence paid lawyers to fight it through the House of Lords and they have won in the end.”