A retired US Army colonel has criticised plans to develop a Georgian mill owner’s house which she described as “almost as old” as her country.

Col Joan Muddy, of Maryland, is one of more than 60 objectors opposing the proposals to extend Woodfield House, Woodfield Road, Cullingworth, and build homes on surrounding land.

Bingley-based developers Gordon Halton Homes has submitted a new application to build on what campaigners have described as “a historic area full of natural and social history”.

The plans are also opposed by people who have visited Woodfield House from Australia and Sweden.

In a letter to Bradford Council, Col Muddy, who has visited the house, said: “A house almost as old as my country and such a beautiful locality would be subject to very strict controls in the US and I am surprised that there seems little protection in the UK.

“Are you so short of space over there that such a tiny plot has to be ram-packed with housing?”

The developer had previously applied for permission to knock down the building, believed to date back to the 1800s, and build eight three-storey homes.

That was withdrawn following a previous campaign in 2008.

The new application is for four houses, an access road and turning area, an extension to the existing house and new garage.

Rev Graeme Hancocks, who is spearheading the campaign against the development, described the planned scheme as a “monstrosity”.

Gordon Halton Homes did not wish to comment.