MORE than fifty homes could be built on a village's former station yard.

Outline permission is being sought for a development of up to 53 houses on the site in New School Lane, Cullingworth.

Three residents have so far objected online to the application, submitted by Wild Acres Ltd.

They fear that with a scheme for over 200 houses already underway at another village site, Manywells, roads would be unable to cope with the increased traffic.

Opponents also claim that schools and other community facilities are oversubscribed and that the new houses would have an overbearing effect on some existing properties.

Cullingworth Village Council will debate the application at its planning meeting this month, to which residents are invited.

Chairman Councillor Jacqui Guy said: "There was an application for housing on this site back in 2008 but there are substantial differences between that one and this latest proposal.

"As the plans stand, there are one or two things we would like to influence.

"Some of those properties on the site boundary would be quite dominant. Also, we don't want to see trees massacred and the land will be contaminated so the applicant will have to provide evidence that has been dealt with.

"There are a lot of things that must be taken into account."

Matthew Taylor, for agent HOW Planning, said issues would be addressed.

"We have provided a transport statement and have put forward a number of measures to improve the highways infrastructure," he said.

"We held a community consultation event and are taking on board what people told us.

"It is important to bear in mind that the local authority has previously resolved to grant permission for residential development on the site, and that was a bigger scheme."

The village council's planning meeting takes place at the Methodist Church, The Dell, at 7pm on March 16.