Hunt Habitats wants to build 10 four and five bedroomed houses in back gardens between properties on Southwell Road West and Clifton Grove.

But concerned residents, who have asked not to be named, have come forward after Chad reported last week how residents in Forest Town were campaigning against plans for 30 apartments on land behind homes on Clipstone Road East.

One objector told Chad: "It is like a little park, even though it's people's private gardens. Most people have left it with trees and bushes. There's lots of birds and squirrels.

"In my opinion it is just purely to do with money — it has nothing to do with improving the area. Planning is supposed to improve the surroundings that you live in but sometimes it doesn't appear to improve the situation where people live."

Residents claim some of the planned properties would be three storeys high and fear they will be overlooked.

But Matt Richardson, land director of Hunt Habitats, told Chad the company would work with council planners to address the concerns about overlooking.

He said: "We are trying to appease the residents as much as we can. We are not a charity — we are in it hopefully to put our mark on the landscape and hopefully make some money as well. We are trying to keep it as low a density as possible."

Mr Richardson said there had been wildlife studies carried out and there were no protected species found, but the company was happy to carry out further ones if the council wanted.