David Wilson Homes fought for several years to get outline planning permission for hundreds of homes on farmland off Farndon Road and eventually got it on appeal but the firm pulled out of the scheme in March saying a price could not be agreed with the landowner.

But it emerged last month that CJC Developments – the company behind the Grange Estate in Desborough – had stepped in to buy the 60-acre plot and was going ahead with the project.

David Wilson Homes is continuing with the planning application on CJC’s behalf.

Revised plans for the development were submitted earlier this month and Harborough District Council sent a letter to residents on July 7 saying the revised plans were on view at the council offices and online.

Shocked residents contacted the Mail this week surprised that long-standing plans for a new school to the east of the site had disappeared in the most recent drawings.

Kath Outram, of Riverside Court in Farndon Road, said: “It was interesting to see that there are now no provisions for a school.”

But Lance Wiggins, planning manager for David Wilson Homes, categorically told the Mail this week that the plans for the new school will still be going ahead as before.

He said the extent of the revised plans were for design matters such as window types, doors and roofing.

The plans do reveal for the first time who the mystery owners of the site were before CJC’s purchase.

The documents say it was owned by the Pilkington Trustees, a charity offshoot of the UK glass manufacturer.

They also list Kevin Stokes of Farndon Fields Farm Shop as a tenant on the land.

People can view the plans at the council offices in Adam and Eve Street, Harborough, or can go on to the website www.harboroughonline.co.uk quoting the reference 07/00360/REM

l Meanwhile Mrs Outram, of Riverside Court, Farndon Road, has complained that the plans were not available at the council offices as advertised.

She said: “I went into the council offices on Friday (July 11) to see these plans. However the girl on the desk knew nothing about them and when she rang the planning department neither did they.”

Gareth Jones, development control manager for the council, said: “We were not aware of any problem.

“We apologise for any difficulty accessing the plans. They were available to view from July 9 and will continue to be available during normal office hours.

“We are happy to accept any responses up to when the plans go to the planning committee, which will be August 12 at the earliest, or September 2.”