But Amber Valley councillors were told at the meeting that for legal reasons not enough of them had objected to the scheme from Miller Homes and the decision had to be deferred to the next planning meeting to be discussed again.

Councillors had voted six to five against the plan, but council chief executive Peter Carney said to satisfy planning laws there had to be eight people voting against a scheme.

Residents are opposed to the homes because they want to see a play area within the development. Miller has offered money towards improving nearby play areas, but residents and councillors say these are too far away.

It is the third time councillors have voted against the proposals to build on the land off Cromford Road.

The planning board wanted to reject the scheme the first time due to of a lack of recreation facilities but Mr Carney said then because of legal issues the decision had to be made by the full council.

The full council went on to reject the scheme.

Developer Miller Homes then appealed but also submitted a new application, this time offering the council more money, £154,000, to improve recreation facilities in the area.

Ian Johnstone, a Cromford Road resident who has campaigned against the development, said: "It's a question of common sense and integrity. The reasons this was rejected previously haven't changed and remain valid.

"This has been rejected by the planning board and Amber Valley full council, Miller Homes has put another £80,000 on the table in the expectation that it can buy a rubber stamp on its proposal."

The money on offer would be used to improve the Queen Street Recreation Ground and Aldercar Recreation Ground but residents and councillors say these are too far away from the development to benefit families that would live there.

Cllr Jo Ward, who sits on the planning board and represents Aldercar where the proposed development lies, said: "It's a long trek.

"You have to cross Dunstead Road and the railway line where we have lost two children because they seem to be drawn to the railway.

"This money is just a drop in the ocean and is not going to improve the off site areas greatly."

Earlier in the day the planning board had walked from the site to Queen
Street recreation ground and taken 23 minutes.