Plans to build more than 140 houses on a piece of green space in Northampton have been backed by councillors, despite confusion surrounding who actually owns the site.
Last year, the West Northampton Development Corporation (WNDC) granted planning permission for 206 homes to be built on the site off Lancaster Way, near Towcester Road.
However, developers Bovis Homes have since said they want to build only 142 new homes on the land.
That plan was backed by Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee this week, despite residents expressing concerns that part of the development site was not owned by Bovis Homes, including one piece of land which contained a deep well.
Councillor Geraldine Davies (Lab, Delapre & Briar Hill), who lives in the area, said: “Nobody is against a development on this site, we know Northampton desperately needs new housing.
“However we don’t believe this development is acceptable.
“There are a number of pieces of unregistered land on the site and a six-metre well, how is that going to be safe?”
Despite admitting his company does not own all of the site, Daniel Oliver, from Bovis Homes, assured councillors the company was confident the development would go ahead.
He said: “We’re absolutely committed to delivering this much-needed residential scheme, and we’re absolutely certain that we’re able to deliver it.
“We are a big developer, we know what we’re doing and we’re absolutely confident this scheme will be delivered.”
Mr Oliver said if planning permission for the development was approved, the scheme could be delivered by early 2014.
Members of the council’s planning committee expressed concerns that some of the site was in unknown ownership, but said as planning permission had been previously granted to build more houses on the land, they would back the new scheme.
Councillor Matt Golby (Con, New Duston) said: “This site has already got planning permission for more houses, so a reduction is probably a good thing.
“I have concerns about the ownership of the land, but generally, I think it’s a good scheme.”
The committee voted unanimously to back the development.