THE latest plans for a controversial housing development at a farm which first surfaced four years ago have been given the green light.

A total of 150 houses are set to be built at Roscoe’s Farm after the planning committee gave their approval to the latest proposal.

Councillors voted in favour of a further 131 houses at the Westhoughton site after the first 19 houses were approved by planners.

Developer Northstone, part of Peel L&P, promises to deliver a sustainable development of “smart houses” with electric vehicle charging points and “super-fast” WiFi.

However, the previously approved application by Miller Homes was to build 44 fewer houses.

Cllr Christine Wild told the committee that “feelings were high” among residents at the prospect of 106 houses due to the impact they feared it would have on local infrastructure and the roads.

She said: “There has been a stealth creep of the number of houses to be developed on this land. The surreptitious increase in the number of houses is cover and not acceptable.”

Cllr Anna-Marie Watters shared her frustration over the history of the development.

She said: "It’s absolutely ridiculous that we have to sit here again because these houses have not been built.”

Cllr Nick Peel described the planning system as "perverse" and said it favours developers.

He said: “Government somehow blames the planning authority when house builders are not building. It's very much weighted in favour of land banking."

But Cllr Peel supported the applications saying that committee must deal with applications on the assumption that they will go ahead.

Design director Richard O’Brien told the committee that Northstone would give the council £1.4m to spend as it wishes.

All councillors on the committee voted in favour of the application except for Cllr Watters and Cllr Roger Hayes.