A giant housebuilder came under fire today for advertising a luxury moorland housing development before receiving planning permission.

Leeds-based Barratts was accused by residents of holding Bradford Council's planning system in contempt over the controversial scheme planned on Idle Moor.

And angry residents are preparing to go to tomorrow's meeting of Bradford area planning sub-committee in City Hall, to protest about the scheme.

An application from the company to build 41 detached houses at Croftlands, Idle, will be considered by councillors who will be recommended by officers to accept it.

A planning spokesman confirmed today that Barratts had no previous approval to develop the site in the way now proposed.

But sub-committee chairman Councillor Syd Collard said the company was doing nothing illegal. "It is designated for housing and officers are recommending approval,'' he said, but stressed: "No building can go ahead unless the company has approval."

However, another company, Arncliffe, has permission to develop 52 houses on an adjacent site and has already started building them.

A spokesman for Barratts declined to comment on the advertisement.

But Liberal Democrat ward councillor Jeanette Sunderland said: "We feel this undermines the committee's authority and the whole planning process."

Idle Moor Residents' Association fears the development will bring extra traffic, put local schools under pressure, hit residents' privacy and affect wildlife on the site.

Officers will tell the meeting that the land is earmarked for housing in the Unitary Development Plan and planning consent has been given in the past for 52 homes.

They say additional school places will be needed for families moving in, but the company has agreed to make a contribution.

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