It attracted major opposition and has raised fears about the loss of further open land.

But a housing plan for open land off Woodhead Road in Honley has been given the go-ahead.

Two petitions opposing any development in the area were signed by 1,267 and 50 people while 228 individual letters were submitted against the plan for the area known as Smithy Place.

Outline – an agreement in principle – plans were approved by Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee by six votes to one.

A guide shows the site could hold around 50 houses and an indicative plan shows a road to neighbouring land which has led people to believe it will lead to a potentially hundreds more homes.

David Wiles, chairman of Brockholes Village Trust, said: “This is only for a quarter of the POL (provisional open land), so there is potentially 200 to 250 more houses and an extra 800 people to come on this site.

“It is a high-volume car route. Brockholes is the nearest village centre is accessed by a unlit road.

“To approve this application and to set a precedent would be cavalier.”

Site of proposed housing development, Woodhead Road near junction with Robinson Lane, Honley
Site of proposed housing development, Woodhead Road near junction with Robinson Lane, Honley

Hamish Gledhill, for the applicant, said the site has good transport links to two village centres and is in an area of confidence that will see the housing built.

Clr Charles Greaves, Holme Valley North Independent, said: “This doesn’t extend Brockholes or Honley, it creates a new hamlet between the two. It’s isolated away from the villages and services.

“Holme Valley North has 200 houses approved in the last 12 months, we have a seven year supply of land for housing and if that was reflected across the borough we wouldn’t be having these problems.”

The land is classed as POL which was set aside in 1999 should Kirklees need to find space for more housing. As the council does not have an up to date planning policy or five year land supply it’s seen as fair game by developers.

Clrs Andrew Pinnock and Paul Kane moved approval, backed by Clrs Steve Hall, Graham Turner, Tony Brice and Bill Armer, while Clr Andrew Cooper vote against.