Residents living next to a proposed 60-acre office development in Brighouse fear the scheme will result in more congestion and noise.

The site of the planned £75 million development, which could create 3,000 jobs and attract national companies, adjoins the Posthouse Forte Hotel, near Junction 25 of the M62. But nearby residents are unhappy at the outline planning application which has been lodged with Calderdale Council and includes 750,000 sq ft of office space.

William Marshall, of Vine Garth, Clifton, said he would consider moving if it was given the go-ahead. "It's a shame that another piece of local green field will be lost," he said. "This seems to be the way with developments these days - bring in traffic problems and try and sort them out afterwards."

The site, which would be known as Clifton Park, is part of land already earmarked by Calderdale as a new employment area. Developers are confident of winning planning approval, claiming it will be a "compatible link" with surrounding developments.

If the development is approved it will be carried out by Clifton Developments (West Yorkshire) Ltd.

Pensioners Ann and Allan Stead, residents of nearby Coal Pit Lane for 46 years, said they would rather look at cows grazing than offices. "We are not in favour of this but no doubt they'll do it because they'll get so much money out of it," said Mr Stead.

Councillor Helen Anderson (Lab, Brighouse), said: "We need to be positive and think of the new jobs for the area. Then we just need to look at traffic in Clifton Common which is already busy."

A spokesman for Younger Homes (Northern) Ltd, a 50 per cent shareholder in the new development company, said: "This will be a nationally significant development in a prime location, being one of the largest office developments on the M62 corridor providing thousands of jobs."

A spokesman for Calderdale Council said the plans would be considered at a planning meeting but no date had been set.