People looking for a new home in Steeton face an unexpected hurdle – because councillors can’t decide whether to name the roads of a new housing estate after horses or shrubs.

Redrow Homes’ development of 209 houses at a site off Thornhill Road is under construction, with properties on the market.

But a squabble over what to name the seven roads that make up the development means these houses remain without addresses, and this is holding up mortgage applications.

Redrow Homes wanted to name the roads after French towns to tie in with the Yorkshire leg of next July’s Tour de France, which will pass through Steeton.

But this idea did not go down well with neighbouring residents and the idea was given a big “non” by councillors. Craven Councillor Adrian Naylor (Ind) and Steeton Parish Council wanted more local names and a council officer came up with a list of roads named after trees and shrubs, including Hawthorne Road and Beech Close.

But Craven Coun Andrew Mallinson (Con) believes the roads should be named after rare farm breeds and shire horses, and suggested names like Longhorn Drive and Swaledale Avenue. The only road name agreed so far is Emmott Walk named after David Emmott, former leader of Steeton Parish Council who died in 2005. He had a passion for rare breed animals.

Because politicians were unable to reach a consensus, the decision has been passed to the council’s Keighley Area Committee, which meets on Thursday.

A report by council officer Andrew Gornall says: “The delay in addressing this site is causing disruption to the developers and vendors. Plots on this site are being sold, but mortgage applications are being held up by the Land Charges process, as the searches do not have addresses for them to complete their part in the process.”

Coun Mallinson says it was important the issue was debated.

He said: “When the company put forward the names of French towns, the residents I spoke to weren’t happy, so I suggested that the timetable for consultation be extended.”

Redrow Homes declined to comment.

The meeting takes place at 6pm at Keighley Town Hall.