Outline planning permission could be sought for a 150-home development in a farm field in Eastburn.

Agent Matthew Binns, of Skipton-based David Hill Chartered Surveyors, spoke about a proposed development at an extraordinary meeting of Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council.

The site is on Main Road, bordering Eastburn House Farm and Airedale Hospital.

Mr Binns said the proposal for around 150 detached and semi-detached homes would include an access road, a traffic light junction on Main Road and a drop-off point for children at Eastburn Junior and Infant School. It would also incorporate an emergency access for the hospital.

“The hospital has only got one access at the moment,” he said. “This new one would only be used in emergency.”

The 6.2-hectare site has been earmarked for housing in Bradford Council’s Unitary Development Plan.

“We know there’s got to be housing there but we don’t want housing that’s going to be a dormitory for Leeds,” said Coun David Mullen, chairman of the parish council. “It’s got to fit into the rest of the area.

Coun Roger Lambert raised concerns about the distance of the proposed development from the train station.

He said: “The distance is probably too far to walk. It’s about two kilometres, which will mean more cars at the station.”

Coun Mullen added: “If this development goes through I can see the already busy roads getting worse.

“There will be nowhere for the traffic to go. At busy times it can take cars 15 to 20 minutes to get through Steeton lights.”

Coun Andrew Mallinson (Cons, Craven) expressed concern at having two major traffic-light controlled junctions so close to Airedale Hospital.

“There will be a signal junction at Thornhill Road and one for the proposed access road to the site, both of which would be pinch points, making it almost impossible for vehicles to get through.”

Coun Lambert said: “Residents feel the infrastructure is beyond threadbare now.”

Coun Mullen said: “At the end of the day, the Local Development Framework says we’ve got to take 900 new houses. But there’s no infrastructure. It’s just not there. The schools are already full to bursting.”

He also pointed out that drains and sewers pipes that run down the Aire Valley were already “over capacity”.

Mr Binns said: “The architects are talking about putting some form of treatment plant on site.”

He also said the developers would take on board all comments from the meeting, as well as any additional points at a public consultation due to take place at Steeton Hub yesterday.