Developers who want to build 135 houses on fields in Keighley say their scheme will reduce the risk of flooding for surrounding houses rather than increase it as many neighbours fear.

The Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement looked likely to get permission for the estate at Shann Lane when Bradford Council planning officers recommended the scheme for approval – despite objections from neighbours and Keighley Town Council.

But when the application came before the council’s regulatory and appeals committee in February members deferred their decision, demanding the applicants provided more information about flooding and access to the site.

These issues had been the main concerns of objectors, and now the developer’s agent Arup has produced its reports.

The report says: “There are accounts from neighbouring residents of flooding to gardens from overland flow arising from the existing site. This situation will be improved, since the proposed development will intercept ‘natural’ overland flow to a large degree, collecting runoff and managing it in a positive drainage system.”

Objectors had also questioned how the extra traffic around the new estate would impact on the surrounding roads, especially the junction of Shann Lane and Spring Gardens Lane.

Arup admits that the development would increase traffic on the road, estimated by around ten per cent, but claimed this was not enough to stand in the way of the application.

Nasar Zarif, who has led the residents’ fight against the plans, said: “It would have been sensible to have an independent group carry out this survey, rather than have the agency who are pushing for this application do it.”

He felt no amount of assurances about flooding will appease residents: “Currently water comes through the fields and over it, that is only going to get worse if they build on the fields.”

The application will likely be decided at an upcoming Regulatory and Appeals Committee meeting.