Ministers are still refusing to say when a decision will be made on plans to build 440 homes on fields near Bingley – triggering criticism from an MP.

The controversy surrounding the Sty Lane site in Micklethwaite – which began almost four years ago – should have been finally settled in April.

But Communities Secretary Eric Pickles missed a deadline to decide the fate of the hotly-fought proposal, alongside the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Now Nick Boles, Mr Pickles’ deputy, has refused to say when campaigners will learn whether the Government has sided with them, or with developers Redrow and Bellway Homes.

Quizzed in the Commons, by Shipley MP Philip Davies, Mr Boles replied: “He knows all too well that I cannot say anything about it.”

The minister refused to answer queries on the grounds that he is acting in a quasi-judicial role, after the High Court ordered a re-run of a rejected appeal from the developers.

But Mr Davies, speaking afterwards, said: “I appreciate the quasi-judicial role that the minister plays and, therefore, his inability to be seen to be prejudicing the decision. However, I don’t see why there should be a delay which is creating a lot of uncertainty and unease in the local community.

“This is a wholly inappropriate development and, given that it has been rejected at each stage of the planning process already, I hope the Government will reiterate the decision it has already made.”

That message was echoed by Terry Brown, chairman of the Greenhill Action Group, formed by residents to save the fields, who said: “In September, it will be four years that we have had this uncertainty.

“We don’t mind in one way – because it puts off the builders – but everybody is waiting to find out what will happen.”

Bradford Council threw out the application, a decision backed by a planning inspector – leading to Mr Pickles’ dismissing the developer’s appeal.

But Redrow and Bellway won a High Court claim that Mr Pickles had “made a mistake”, forcing the Secretary of State to re-evaluate the appeal.