Objectors to a major housing scheme on the edge of Keighley have reacted angrily to news that Bradford Council is likely to approve it next Thursday.

News that the Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement wanted to build 135 houses off Shann Lane angered neighbouring residents so much when it was announced last year they collected a petition of 178 names.

But despite Keighley Town Council also objecting to the scheme, Bradford Council’s planning officers deem it “an appropriate development of the site” and have advised the regulatory and appeals committee to approve it.

One objector says approving the application would fly in the face of democracy and ignore local knowledge, Town council members said the application “failed in just about everything” before refusing it because of poor access and lack of infrastructure but they can only make recommendations – it is ultimately up to Bradford Council to make the final decision.

Objectors say there is no need for new houses, as there are more than 250 empty properties in Keighley, and argue the new estate would cause flooding and traffic problems on an already dangerous network of roads.

But a report by planning officer Julian Jackson points out that the land is already allocated for housing and adds: “The development of this site is considered an appropriate development that gives the opportunity to develop a sustainable pattern of development at the edge of the urban fabric of Keighley.”

Eric Mangam, whose Greenacres home backs on to the site, said: “It is disgusting it’s down for approval. It is going to devalue all our houses by about £50,000, the area is going to become a slum.

“There is no way they can get all that extra traffic on Shann Lane. It is really busy anyway. It can’t take any more cars. I am going to have a block of houses out the back of my home.”

Noel Manning, who lives in another property that backs onto the field, said: “It’s terrible isn’t it? It is crazy to think that they might bypass the local council. It won’t be Bradford Council that has to live with this estate. It is ridiculous, Keighley council knows the area and rejected this, how can Bradford Council override that? This decision has been made by someone who doesn’t know the area - it’s so unfair. Whatever happened to democracy?”

They plan to speak against the application at the planning meeting on Thursday at City Hall at 10am.