Residents say a housing development they once welcomed has been altered and will damage their quality of life.

The development of 26 houses and bungalows and 20 flats, on the site of the former Oakdale First School in Wrose, Bradford, was approved by the Shipley Area Planning Panel in February.

Susan Wainwright, who lives in Oakdale Drive, said: "We were pleased at first that the site was going to be developed because since the school had been closed down there had been a number of incidents of vandalism at the disused site. We were happy with the plans for a mixture of bungalows and four-bedroom houses being proposed."

But Mrs Wainwright said the plans had been altered since they were approved.

"The board at the front of the development actually advertises five-bedroom properties now," she said.

"The fifth bedroom appears to be sited in the roof space which considerably increases the building height. We were never consulted about the plans being changed."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We agreed a few minor modifications, including an increase in the size of the houses, without notifying the residents. We are investigating to see whether the houses are in accordance with the plans agreed."

Bradford Council planning officer Peter Bridgman said the height of the buildings from the ground to the ridge on the original planning application was 8.5 metres, but 8.8 metres on the modified plans.

Mrs Wainwright, 58, said it was not until a couple of weeks ago that a number of residents became concerned about the height of the houses. "The houses behind ours are not complete yet and already are towering above our bedroom window," she said. "They still have two floors to build so we will lose our view of the Aire Valley."

Mrs Wainwright has written to the Government Ombudsman objecting to the changes in the plans. Her husband David, 70, said: "A big selling point of the houses was the views they commanded. Losing them because of this development will reduce the value of the properties."

Rita Francis, who has lived in Oakdale Drive for 24 years, said: "Our quality of life will be seriously affected because we will no longer get as much sunlight.

"We do not object to the development. The original plans were acceptable."

David Halliday, a director of Halliday Clark architects in Shipley, said: "The houses are being built on a self-build basis - there are 26 plots each with a different builder. All of the houses are being constructed to approved plans."

Councillor Phillip Thornton (Lab, Wind-hill and Wrose) said: "I have received a lot of complaints. Every time there is a change in the plans we should let residents know and give them the chance to object as that would avoid problems such as this."