By 2016, the Government wants 20,000 new houses to have been built around Huddersfield.

The Examiner spoke to residents in Shelley - an area which has seen intensive house building - to find out how this has affected the community.

A HUNDRED years ago, Shelley was a tiny village.

Today the landscape is dramatically different.

Housing estates have sprung up and Shelley has almost doubled in size.

But this has not happened without a fight.

There have been lengthy and bitter battles between developers and residents opposed to more housing in the area.

The most notable struggle was over the expansion of the Shelley Park housing development five years ago.

Shelley Park was built during during the 1960s and 70s, near to Penistone Road.

For many years, the village was split - with new houses concentrated near Penistone Road at the bottom and older houses clustered near Huddersfield Road at the top.

Then developers decided to build hundreds of homes in the middle, creating one big housing estate.

Residents protested fiercely but the developers won.

In 2002, Persimmon Homes sought permission for 58 homes at Shelley Bank Bottom.

So how do residents think these developments have changed their village? And how would they feel about more homes?

Howard Crowther has run Shelley Post Office, at Far Bank, for 20 years.

He said: "It doesn't really affect me business-wise. Shelley doesn't have a village centre, so it is a poor spot for trading.

"A lot of people here spend their time commuting. People think if you build more houses you get more business, but it doesn't work like that."

However, as a resident, Mr Crowther said has concerns about the effects of increased housing.

He said: "Far Bank is very busy with traffic. If they build more it will just increase.

"As for the school, it must be a nightmare for them to keep finding new places for children.

"But it is still a nice village.

"The developments haven't affected the community spirit - it has always been just a small percentage of people who get involved, like the community association who are wonderful."

Clr Adrian Murphy is a Kirklees councillor for Kirkburton ward, which covers Shelley.

He said many local people contact him with concerns about housing developments, both in Shelley and the rest of his ward.

The Government set a target of 1,100 houses to be built in the ward between 2001 and 2015.

Clr Murphy said that current developments will mean around 800 of these 1,100 houses have either been built or are in the pipeline.

Clr Murphy said: "Development has an effect on the infrastructure, such as roads and on schools.

"We have new developments all over the ward. If we reach the magic 1,100, do you think they will say right we won't build anymore? It will just continue."

He added: "As ward councillors we are struggling to keep villages individual and stop them joining up.

"People round here want that. However, if it is a brownfield site there is little we can do to stop building. Then we just try and get local people the best deal we can."

Clr Malcolm MacDonald said he had moved onto Shelley Park in 1995 and soon developed an interest in the building projects which were ongoing in the village.

He formed the Shelley Community Association Liaison committee in 1998.

But he said it was obvious that only houses would be built rather than any other facilities for the village.

In the 1990s, around 700 houses were built at Shelley Park but there was no greenspace and on the estate itself there was only room for a postbox not even a seat.

This was despite outline planning permission being granted post war for housing including shops, a cinema and other facilities.

But Clr MacDonald said Shelley park had given the village better cohesion and improved social activities and opportunities for everyone.

"There have always been active groups in Shelley in the past, but since the development more people have come forward with new ideas such as conservation groups, reading groups, an arts exhibition and garden festival," he said

"The influx of new people has revitalised the village. It was always active but now the village hall and Methodist church hall's are the hub of village life.

"All the activities and social events draw new people into the village from all over the county."