A plan to build 27 homes on a Meltham field has been blasted by neighbours.

But residents of Colders Lane fear a planning committee may be forced to pass GSK Developments’ proposal because of looser planning regulations.

Villagers say the development would bring traffic on the surrounding roads to an unacceptable level and would destroy an attractive green space which is the home to house martins and other wildlife.

Residents also fear the land, which becomes waterlogged in heavy rain, is unsuitable for building.

Maggie Mellor, whose house backs onto the field, said: “It’s the wrong development in the wrong place.

“There are some strong issues about access onto a very busy, congested road and with the very wet weather the field gets waterlogged and that drains into our property.

“I don’t think they’ve taken sufficient consideration of the drainage and environment issues. I’ve seen house martins feeding on the field.”

But Kirklees Council currently has no Local Development Framework (LDF) – the planning blueprint for development within the borough – making it easier for similar proposals to be passed.

A plan to build 27 houses, off Netherthong Lane, Netherthong, was approved by a Kirklees planning committee on February 20.

Another proposal to build 29 homes, off New Mill Road, Wooldale, was deferred.

Kirklees Council has already lost £70,000 fighting developers which launched appeals against the council’s rejection of their plans.

Holme Valley North councillor Edgar Holroyd-Doveton is among the objectors.

“I’m certainly worried about it”, he said. “The whole situation has occurred because of the pressure from the Government on the planning inspector. We wanted to keep housing numbers down in Kirklees but the Government has pushed them up for spurious reasons.There are a number of guidelines which ignore local considerations and Kirklees has ended up as the fall guy.”

Public consultation ended on February 23.

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