The prolonged battle to save a greenfield Bingley site from a massive housing estate could be far from over after developers won an appeal to get the case referred back to the Government.

Now campaign group, Greenhill Action Group (GAG), which fought a £60,000 three-year battle to preserve the greenfield site bordering the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in Sty Lane, Micklethwaite, is calling on Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles to visit the site to ensure he rules out the development again.

Mr Pickles, a former leader of Bradford Council, rejected an appeal against the refusal of the scheme by a Government inspector in July because of highways worries.

The inspector had thrown out the plans by Bellway and Redrow to build between 420 and 440 homes saying there would be “severe harm” to road safety if the developers went ahead.

But the developers took Mr Pickles’ decision to the High Court saying he “misunderstood” the scheme and had “made a mistake” in dismissing the appeal.

GAG chairman Terry Brown said he feared the ruling, which could also see the public inquiry re-opened, could see them losing because of Government pressures to encourage development. He said: “It worries us because we thought we had won but obviously it has now gone back for reconsideration and we could end up losing.

“We still believe we have got a good rationale, but the problem is the Government seem to be making a lot of play based on the fact that housing developments should be allowed and they are basically turning aside every objection so they can get as much housing planned as they can.

“Obviously there is nothing to say that Eric Pickles can’t come back with the same decision and we believe we will have some input into the reconsideration.

“He has to come and see it before he makes a decision because I believe if he saw the site he would still uphold his original decision.”

Bingley Councillor, John Pennington (Con), said that he would be very surprised if Mr Pickles changed his view.

“I don’t think we should dig up a single square metre of virgin grassland in the country,” he said. “I also believe that the situation regarding housing down South, where there is a shortage, is far different to the situation up North, where I am yet to be convinced there is a serious shortage.”

A spokesman for Bellway said that he was pleased the department had agreed to reconsider their application.

All interested parties have until January 17 to submit representations which could include any material change in circumstances, fact or policy, which may have arisen since Mr Pickles’ letter of July 19. They can also request that a public inquiry is re-opened.