Cottingley residents have protested against plans to build homes on a hamlet they claim is too small and lacks facilities for more housing.

Senior planning officer Isha Ahmed, representing Bradford Council at a public inquiry into the proposed replacement Unitary Development Plan (UDP), said the New Brighton site was too small and it would be "difficult to draw a boundary that would not lead to further development that could impact on greenbelt."

The inquiry, held at Victoria Hall, Saltaire, considered an objection about privately-owned land attached to the Hollies in New Brighton, a residential property included in a greenbelt land zone.

Owner of the land, Rob Bell, said the land should be treated as "infill settlement" which would allow building.

He told Government inspector Cliff Hughes: "The impact on the greenbelt would be minimal. There have been no objections from people in the street."

Mr Bell claimed the only objection was from people living more than a mile away. He said the proposal was not likely to lead to further development.

An application to change an outbuilding into a house with an extension and garden on the site was refused in March last year and Mr Bell said an amended application would be submitted.