CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a new housing estate in Huncoat will be decided on Wednesday.

Morris Homes wants to build 27 two, three, and four bedroom homes on scrubland off Foxwood Chase in Deer Park.

The firm had originally wanted to build 31 houses, and lay a footpath and cycle path in the south-west corner of the 3.4 acre site to link to Peel Park.

But after complaints from residents and concerns from council officers, changes were made by Morris Homes.

Documents lodged with the council show the path has been removed, while plans to build 12 terraced homes close to Badgers Close have also been scrapped.

They will be replaced by six detached homes and a pair of semi-detached homes, plans show.

In a design and access statement, Morris Homes said: "The proposed development is entirely residential and aims to meet the housing needs of the local community and provide a high quality sustainable environment for people to live in.

"The scheme will provide a diverse mix and type of accommodation, i.e. both private and affordable, to help maintain a sustainable community, which will respond to the current market demand and local need for family homes and homes for the first time buyers, as well as those on the housing need registers of registered social landlords."

Dozens of objections have been received by the council, with the scheme proving one of the more controversial planning applications in recent memory.

Mr and Mrs Catterall, of Badgers Close, sent a video of flooding in the back garden of their home in 2012.

They said: "We are writing to reiterate the objection already made to the planning application following the resubmission by Morris Homes.

"We have lived at the property since it was built in 1998 and in recent years have seen a marked increase in risks associated with flooding."

The couple said rainfall runs down off the Coppice, across woodland at the back of their house, and into nearby homes.

They added: "Replacing the current woodland with housing and roads will surely cause a rise in the quantity and risk from surface water, and we don't believe the plans submitted by Morris Homes take these facts into account."

Michelle Taylor from Badgers Close said she was 'assured' the woodland behind her home would not be built on when she bought it in January.

She said: "I have lived here a short time but have seen the deer, squirrels, frogs, and bats. Where are they going to go? They are going to be killed while this two-year development takes place."

The council's planning committee will make a decision when they meet on Wednesday.