Cowling residents have voiced their opposition to a proposal to build 19 affordable homes on a greenfield site next to the Acre Mill development in the village.

Residents had the chance to view the proposals before a meeting with the developers, Craven District Council representatives and parish council members at Cowling Village Hall.

Firebird Homes, in partnership with the owner of the land, Skipton Properties, wants to build 19 affordable homes on behalf of Manningham Housing Associa-tion Limited (MHA).

Guy Wilman, affordable housing officer for the district council, said: “Craven District Council attaches a lot of importance to meeting the affordable housing needs of the district. We identified the need for 31 affordable homes in the district based on a postal survey which was taken in 2005.

“We were approached by Skipton Properties to see if this land could be an exception site for affordable housing, meaning it could be developed as exception to normal planning policy. But we want to clarify that no planning application has yet been made.”

The proposal for the site is to build six two-bedroom bungalows, six two-bedroom houses and seven three-bedroom houses.

Nigel Guy, managing director of Firebird Homes, said the houses would be for people on low incomes who would pay £75 to £90 per week in rent.

Anil Singh, chief executive of MHA, said: “Much of rural England is occupied by people who do not live in their local area and have no chance of living there.”

District and ward councillor Adrian Green, who called for the meeting, said there was still a chance for residents to express their opinions by filling out a questionnaire on the parish council website at www.cowling council.co.uk.

But Cowling residents attending the meeting were resolute in their opposition to the proposal.

Marie Blakeley-Broadbent said: “There’s no need for this area to be developed.”

Councillor Alan Perrow, chairman of Cowling Parish Council, said another meeting about the proposal would be held in at least six weeks’ time.