The plans to build 550 homes at the former Clariant Works and the Riverside Mills sites were rejected earlier this year by the council after opposition from across the local community.
There will now be an appeal to the Department of Communities and Local Government by developers Harrow Estates.
Criticism over the plans centre on the impact on roads, with fears for road safety and further congestion on local roads should the project be given the green light.
Opponents to the scheme have also pointed out that over 21,000 dwellings have been granted planning permission in the Leeds unitary area, including at the Kirkstall Forge and Woodside Quarry developments nearby.
They have also noted the impact on the local education system, with the possibility of more than 1,000 extra pupils in an already oversubscribed area.
There are no current plans to build a school in Horsforth and two schools in the area, Newlaithes and Featherbank, have built temporary accommodation to house their current intake.
Kate Arbuckle, chair of Horsforth Town Council’s Planning and Licensing Committee, said: “Horsforth Town Council is very concerned about road safety to do with access to the site. There is a very busy ring road and there would be a substantial increase in traffic.
“More people mean more congested roads. Access and exits to the site need to be safe.”
She also spoke about the lack of plans to build amenities or any business space on the site for the new homeowners.
“People who live down there have no real resources,” she said. “There are going to be no large shops, no doctors, no dentists and no schools built on the development.
“Five hundred and fifty houses could lead to over 1,000 children needing schools in the area. All the schools in Horsforth are oversubscribed, in addition to two schools needing temporary accommodation.
“It’s not that people are against the site being used, it’s the fact the development is not suited to the site they are using. A mixed site would be better. There is a lack of business accommodation in Horsforth and there is concern as we need businesses in the area.”
Harrow Estates were not available for comment.