Residents claimed their privacy would "be destroyed" if 24 properties were built next to their gardens.

Homeowners in Chapel Road, Crossflatts, near Bingley, fear the three-storey buildings would overlook their homes with several of the planned top-level bedrooms being at the same level as their living rooms.

Developer General Contractors (Leeds) Ltd has submitted a planning application to build 24 two and three-storey homes with parking at the land, off Sleningford Road.

Shipley planning department said the developer had demolished Ivy Cottage on the site and had permission to do so as the firm planned to build a housing development in its place.

The Telegraph & Argus reported earlier this year how a copse of trees on the site was felled. Although they were not protected by tree preservation orders, environmentalists felt the trees were a habitat for wildlife.

Richard Tonks, who has lived in Chapel Road with his wife and two children for eight years, said: "It's literally going to block our views and we would be overlooked."

Mr Tonks, 41, said one of the proposed properties would be located only 50 centimetres from one garden in Chapel Road. Residents in Chapel Road have written letters of protest to Bradford Council about the proposals and a petition against the application has been started.

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said: "There's no thought gone into this about the impact on the local area and it's just about cramming as many in as possible."

The plot, no longer accessible from Slenningford Road, was bought by the developer for £500,000. It had been owned by the Highways Agency while Bingley relief road was built but has since been auctioned. The trees had not been protected by a preservation order. Crossflatts Village Society member Liz Deakin said a petition had been started by residents. She said if the application was passed access to Sleningford Road should be re-opened for construction vehicles to get onto the site.

The developer declined to comment.