A troubled charity’s plans to build homes on land described as a ‘community amenity’ has been met with objections.

Holme Valley Land Charity, which has been at the centre of several land ownership disputes, hopes to build two semi-detached houses on land off Sude Hill Terrace, New Mill.

The land, which historically belonged to the Church of England, is informally used as a car park and a meeting point and has been used for barbecues and bonfires.

Neighbours say the loss of land will not only put more parked cars on the road, but it will be the end of a ‘community amenity’.

John Cullaigh, who lives next to the site, said: “It’s something of a community amenity.

“It’s not a sports ground but walkers and ramblers meet there and it’s been used on Bonfire Night and for church fetes and Christmas fairs. People have barbecues there.

Protest over outline planning application for 2 semi detached dwellings, taking valuable parking away from the church at Sude Hill in New Mill

“It’s on an ad hoc basis but it’s clearly there as a public amenity.”

Permission for the plan for the two three-bedroom houses will be decided by Kirklees Council following a public consultation, which ends on November 25.

Holme Valley Land Charity was set up in 2009 to sell plots of land – mostly former quarries – to raise money for good causes in Holme Valley.

But the charity has been forced to give several plots back and has lost three legal disputes.

It has also been rapped by the Information Commissioner and Trading Standards and has been involved in a number of land ownership disputes.