A battle to reclaim a playing field for family use is one step closer to being won.

Braybon Holdings has applied to Brighton and Hove City Council to build 112 low-cost homes on a private playing field at Redhill Close in Westdene.

However, it is likely to be rejected by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, February 25.

Planning officer Hamish Walke said the city should keep hold of the land, even though it has not been used for about 12 years.

There have been hundreds of objections from local people, some of whom formed the Westdene and Withdean Community Association to fight the application.

The objectors say the area does not have the infrastructure - including schools, doctors' surgeries, shops and youth facilities - to support the homes.

Association chairman Mike Whitty said the scheme would generate about 1,000 car journeys a day for school runs, shopping trips and commuting.

He said: "We expected this would be the outcome and of course we are delighted. But it's not over yet. We still have to get through the meeting next week but hopefully, the outcome will be on our side.

"Braybon put signs up saying 'Keep Off' and we are law-abiding people. But after this we intend to use the playing field again.

"If Braybon wants to call the police to get us off, it has the right but we don't care."

Last year the association submitted an outline scheme for a community centre on part of the site, which was granted by the council. But it does not own the land, which belongs to the Braybon family.

In 1956 the family made a covenant to ensure no developers could build there, allowing the field to be used for recreation.

Local homeowners have seen off other significant plans for housing developments in the past, including in 1998 when Sunley Homes came forward with proposals for 45 homes, prompting protests from residents.

Despite an offer of £200,000 to improve sports facilities in other parts of the city, the application was rejected in November 1999.

A government inspector later upheld the council's decision.

When the threat reared its head again in July 2002 in the form of 112 low-cost homes, residents swiftly formed the community association.

Within 21 days they had produced a thorough 28-page report and raised £2,000 for the fight.

Council planning officer Mr Walke said: "Although the proposals would help to address affordable housing need, it is not considered this need outweighs fundamental planning policy on housing requiring the use of brownfield sites before greenfield."

Paul Burgess of Brighton-based DMH Planning, the housing project's architects, said: "It is 100 per cent affordable housing, which is unique, and will help ease the city's chronic shortage of houses for key workers."