A developer has decided to fight its battle to build a housing estate in a village on two fronts, with a new planning application and appeal at the same time.

Harron Homes wants to build on a field off Crack Lane, Wilsden, but Bradford Council refused its application for 73 houses there last year.

Shortly before Christmas, the company launched an appeal against that decision and this week it revealed a second planning application for 82 houses on the same site, giving it two chances to have the homes approved.

One local councillor said he was “appalled” that Harron now wanted to build even more houses on the site.

No date has been set for the appeal, but on Thursday it will be discussed by Bradford Council’s regulatory and appeals committee, who will be asked to drop one of the main reasons for originally refusing the plans – that it could cause a flooding risk.

When refused in April last year, councillors felt the estate could lead to torrents of surface water, causing localised flooding.

But the authority’s Drainage Services has since asked for this reason for refusal not to be mentioned in the appeal, because it could prove costly were the council to lose. If successful Harron could claim costs from the authority, including the costs of proving flooding was not a risk.

Instead the committee will be encouraged to fight the appeal on the other two concerns – loss of parking and sustainability.

The committee meets at Bradford City Hall at 10am.

Tony Caunt, who sits on the parish council, was surprised to hear Harron Homes was submitting new plans for an even larger estate. He said: “I’m rather taken aback and a bit appalled. We were expecting them to come back and maybe reduce the number of houses to a more realistic figure, not increase them.”

He is also disappointed Bradford Council may not be pursuing the flooding issue, adding: “We think the issue of surface water is a prime reason for refusal on that parcel of land. “I think it is so bad that it will cause serious problems for any new households. I am a bit worried the Council is taking one step towards throwing in the towel.”