THOUSANDS of new homes could be on the way in Huddersfield.
Up to 4,600 houses could be built during the next 10 to 15 years to cater for a rising population.
Half will be built on previously developed land called brownfield.
But the remainder will have to be on sites where there has been no building in the past.
Council chiefs are bracing themselves for protests about pressure on schools and transport networks.
People in the town are being urged to air their views at a public meeting next week.
It is being staged at Huddersfield Town Hall on Wednesday next week at 7.30pm.
The move follows Government orders that councils must produce plans for more house-building.
Clr Linda Wild, chairman of Kirklees Council's Huddersfield area committee, said: "Many people express concerns about the amount of housing being built within their area and will no doubt be worried about the effects of any further development.
"This consultation process allows residents to say how their area should develop in the future.
"It is important they make their views known now rather than protest later when it may be too late."
The council will start to draw up the new plan later this year.
It will include exact details of how increasing housing demand will be satisfied in the period up to 2016.
A similar debate is going on in other areas of Kirklees.
A senior council official said: "We must realise that just saying Huddersfield is full is not sufficient.
"We need to identify the scale of change which we think is acceptable and present clear reasons why this should not be exceeded.
"I hope that as many people as possible will attend the meeting and give their views."
