A businessman still plans to build hundreds of houses on fields at Haworth, despite little movement on the plans for more than six months.

Pervez Abbas first announced plans for up to 300 houses on land he owns at Weavers Hill in September, and on several occasions since then has said a planning application is imminent.

Yesterday he revealed that plans are still moving ahead, with an application for the first wave of 97 houses and a meeting with residents due next month.

The site is used for grazing, and next to moorland that inspired the Bronte sisters.

Earlier this month it was revealed that the area is still being considered for new homes as part of Bradford Council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), which is out to consultation.

Weavers Hill is listed as one of 19 potential housing sites in Haworth.

Mr Abbas, of Bradford, said if his initial application was successful he would submit a further application for another 200 homes.

He said: “Plans will be submitted some time within the next two weeks. We are refining things and we’re almost ready to submit an application. We are waiting for traffic surveys and things like that to come back.

“I will have a meeting with residents soon.”

The number of houses he wants to build has dropped from an initial 320.

But the scheme is opposed by many in the village, including the Bronte Society.

Responding to the site being included on the SHLAA, the society’s heritage officer, Christine Went, said: “We were disappointed, but not very surprised.

“Nobody wants this particular site developed.

“We understand there is a need for housing, and certain types of housing. Not everyone wants to live in a quaint cottage on Main Street, but there are places you put houses and there are places you don’t.

“When people come here to go to the museum or to walk on the moors, they don’t want to see a huge housing estate.”

She said the group would soon make a representation on the SHLAA.

Councillor John Huxley, chairman of Haworth Parish Council, said it could not comment in detail on the application before it was submitted.

“That size of development is more than we’d probably want there, but we have to see what his plans are first.”

e-mail: chris.young@telegraphandargus.co.uk