DEVELOPERS have stated they would be “happy” to meet campaigners who are trying to stop 99 new homes being built in Clayton, Bradford.

Barratt Homes wants to build the properties on a green field site, which it states has been safeguarded for future development, off Westminster Avenue and Holts Lane.

It is planning to market the site primarily as family homes, with 75 houses having three or four bedrooms, alongside 24 two-bed properties.

A design statement supporting the scheme states it will create a “distinctive residential development which is sympathetically designed to respect the surrounding built and natural environment.”

But the plans have sparked outrage among residents, who in response have established the Keep Clayton Green Action Group, designed to designed to protect the area from “inappropriate” new housing developments.

The group has lodged an e-petition, signed by 124 people, urging Bradford Council to consider the wider implications of building on Clayton’s green fields.

More than 180 people, including ward councillors, have also now lodged formal objections to the project.

Group chairman Richard Ing said members would “fight wherever they can” to stop the plans, which he said would see Clayton “lose forever its village identity and sense of community.”

He said: “We fully expect the objections to go through the 200 barrier, and we have our legal representative meeting someone at the Council this week.

“There’s a lot of momentum behind the campaign now, and it’s from the whole of Clayton.

"People are furious. People are genuinely thinking that if this development happens, we’re in trouble.

"There are real concerns on issues like flooding, schools, and road safety.

“Bradford Council should prioritise the development of brownfield sites and only consider the development of green spaces as a last resort when all other options are exhausted.”

Clayton Parish Council has also met to discuss the implications of the proposed development, and Barratt said it was monitoring the results of the public consultation.

Its spokesman said: “Barratt Developments will be digesting all comments made once the consultation period has ended, and if requested, the team would be happy to meet with the parish council and/or the objection group.”

On a potential meeting, Mr Ing said: “We would meet with them, and we would hope they would listen to the people of Clayton.”