Plans for 30 houses on a Lindley green spot have been backed.

Councillors gave the go-ahead for Persimmon Homes to build on open land off Crosland Road, which is allocated as an employment buffer zone between existing housing and a larger area allocated for employment use, which is yet to be developed.

The new Strategic Planning Committee narrowly passed it four votes to three.

Clr Mark Hemingway, Lindley Conservative, told the committee that housing could jeopardise future employment relocating to the area which the land already has approval for. He also called for highway improvements.

Peter Schofield from Lindley Moor Action Group argued planning policy did not give councillors the green light to change the use of land without a review, which has not taken place.

Other complaints related to air quality, a piecemeal approach to planning and highways troubles in the area.

Persimmon will be asked to make five of the houses affordable; a £74,132 education contribution; £93,000 towards off-site public open space; £161,000 to infrastructure improvements.

It will give Kirklees Council a £250k in New Homes Bonus, government cash for new housing.

During the councillors debate, Clr Andrew Pinnock, moved refusal, saying the wider area in Lindley needed to be looked at comprehensively as one site.

Clr Bill Armer described it as “salami slicing” the site but Clr Paul Kane said while they’d love to do it comprehensively, they cannot be hypocritical about it.