A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build new homes on urban green space in Cleckheaton has been rejected - to the delight of campaigners who fought against the proposed development.

Strata Homes had wanted to build 51 homes on land off New Lane, but, despite the firm reducing the proposed number of houses to 39, councillors on Kirklees Council's planning panel voted unanimously to turn down the plans.

The man at the forefront of the campaign, Graeme Raisbeck, revealed the joy felt at the campaigners' victory, but warned that the battle may still not have been won.

"It is good news," said Mr Raisbeck. "We have got the victory that we wanted, although there are a few buts in there."

Mr Raisbeck said the Council was in the process of devising a plan of areas of land that could be designated for developments as part of a nationwide initiative being carried out by local authorities to cope with a rising population and housing need. The plan could be put to public consultation by the end of the month. Mr Raisbeck said the Council had to build 35,000 houses over the next 15 years.

"We are hoping we have done enough to say this land should not be part of that," said Mr Raisbeck. "We are hoping that we have made this such a high-profile case. The land has been valued at a medium to high classification.

"But I think we have got one eye on that.

"We are not naive enough to not know that massive numbers of houses are needed because the population is growing."

He added: "We have convinced the planners and the councillors, which is good. And to get it as unanimous was quite a victory.

"It was an important victory. But it would be a disaster if in eight weeks that changed under new legislation."

At the start of the campaign to protect the land, Mr Raisbeck said of 60 homes near the site, only two households were in favour with the other 58 against.

Strata Homes had submitted a planning application to build a selection of two, three, four and five-bedroom properties on the land.

Kirklees planning officer Bill Topping said at the decision meeting: "In the officers' view, the land does still serve a legitimate urban green space function."

He added: "A development would be harmful and diminish the value of the urban green space."

At the same meeting, a development of 100 houses on a former industrial site on Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, was given the go-ahead.

"We are not against that," said Mr Raisbeck. "We are not against the building of houses, but it needs to be in the right areas."