The developer behind a controversial housing plan has backed down and agreed to carry out major sewer work.

Campaigners today said they were disappointed to have lost the long battle against the Gilstead housing scheme - but were delighted the sewerage work would be done.

Persimmon Homes was last year given permission to build 66 homes at the former Yorkshire Water site in Warren Lane on the condition the work was carried out.

Initially Persimmon appealed against the clause and was to take Bradford Council to a public inquiry next month, which it has now dropped.

The plan sparked protests from environmental groups who said the sewer overflow, known as CSO 114, was unable to cope with extra demand.

A further 273 homes are being built on the other side of Warren Lane next to Wilsden Primary school.

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley) said it was unfortunate the site was earmarked for housing in the last Unitary Development Plan, the Council's planning blueprint.

"It's difficult to remove green sites like this once it has been put into the UDP and this land should never have even been considered for housing," he said.

"Our saving grace is that at least the sewer improvements will be done and hopefully the work will be inspected by Yorkshire Water."

The condition states none of the houses can be occupied until the work is done and inspected by Yorkshire Water.

Aire Valley Conservation Society secretary Penny Ward said she was pleased 'common sense had prevailed'.

"I'm pleased the inquiry is not going ahead and it's thanks to the determination and persistence of the planning panel that an independent survey was carried out on the site which backed the concerns of residents."

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said it was difficult to evaluate the cost of the work.

"We will be inspecting the improvements to check everything has been done to the required standard," she said.

No-one at Persimmon Homes was willing to comment.