PLANS to build up to 30 homes on part of the fire service headquarters site in Birkenshaw look set to be approved later this week.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service submitted the outline plans as part of a modernisation programme, which has seen the former control centre building and some administration offices on the Bradford Road site left vacant.

In redeveloping its estate the service plans to sell off the surplus land while retaining its headquarters at neighbouring Oakroyd Hall, a listed building on the wider site, as well as various offices and training facilities.

Funds from the sale, which would see the plot increase in value with the benefit of outline planning permission, would be reinvested in the service.

The scheme involves a 1.49 hectare plot of land containing a two storey building which housed the brigade's control centre handling emergency calls for 40 years until its move to Leeds in 2014. The once-adjoining IT department will have completed its relocation to another part of the headquarters site by the end of next month.

In addition the site includes 11 former houses that were converted into offices in the 1980s, but became surplus to requirements and have stood empty since 2013.

These existing buildings would be demolished to make way for the housing development and a new access road off Bradford Road would be created.

A Fire Service spokesman said: “A plot of vacant land at Fire Service Headquarters in Birkenshaw is due to be marketed, subject to outline residential planning approval by Kirklees Council planning department.

“The Fire Service has relocated a number of functions at the Birkenshaw site as part of a wider modernisation programme, leaving a large plot at its headquarters now surplus to requirements.

“A successful application for outline planning consent will increase the value of the land for prospective buyers, thereby ensuring more money is available for the Fire and Rescue Authority to reinvest.

“The Fire Service has already received a couple of expressions of interest, however, we do not anticipate the site being officially on the open market until the end of May.”

Kirklees Council planners are recommending that the scheme be approved subject to conditions including the signing of a legal agreement to secure the provision of affordable housing and public open space on the site, and a contribution to education of £50,000, as well as providing metro cards and a bus shelter.

Concerns were raised by local residents about a lack of school places in the area to accommodate more homes, and a lack of provision for play areas. There were also objections relating to traffic and and extra 30 homes using an already over-crowded and fast road.

But in a report to the committee, officers state that there has only been one recorded injury accident to the front of the site in the last five years, which was in 2012.

Initial concerns were raised that some of the homes were too close to protected trees, but the layout plan has been revised and the council's arboricultural officer is now satisfied with the proposals.

A decision will be made on the scheme at a meeting of the council's Heavy Woollen Area planning sub-committee which takes place on Thursday, April 14, from 1pm, at Dewsbury Town Hall.