PLANS to build 55 homes on Council-owned green fields in Cleckheaton are being recommended for approval again.

A decision is expected to be made on the 1.68 hectare site off Kenmore Drive on Thursday after the matter was deferred last month.

The controversial plan has attracted more than 100 letters of objection.

In addition Kirklees Council pulled the site out of a planned auction, where it had been listed for sale with a guide price of £1.25 million.

But members failed to make a decision at the Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee last month, calling for the authority to provide further information on issues such as land ownership around the access and air pollution.

The authority’s highways department originally had concerns about extending the cul-de-sac as existing on-street parking could create issues with highway safety.

In the latest report to this week’s sub-committee, officers explain how the access was altered from a single point to two points, via Kenmore Drive and Kenmore View, in response to these concerns.

They now add that the Council has also explored the possibility of using Rooks Avenue as a third point of access.

Councillor Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) has submitted her concerns to the authority about the planning bid.

She states that there have been three separate proposals for access as the plans have altered - Kenmore Drive only, then two points of access but one way only, and now the third proposal is to use both Kenmore Drive and Kenmore View as two way access.

She adds: “As access is such a problem, the Council should consider developing the site to meet the needs of households with low car ownership or low use during peak times.

“There is a need across the Spen Valley for more retirement homes.

“A development that meets local need and reduces the impact on the Kenmore estate should be considered.”

It has also emerged that an application for public rights of way across the site was made ten years ago.

An application for a special order to get an unrecorded right of way across the site recognised is being considered by Council officers.

The meeting is due to take place on December 14.