PLANS for almost 50 homes across the Spen Valley will be determined next week at a virtual planning meeting.

It will be the first meeting of the Kirklees Council's Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee since before lockdown.

Some of the applications are being brought to the virtual committee due to the number of objections from nearby residents.

Across the four schemes, in Gomersal, Birkenshaw, Hartshead and Heckmondwike, there have been a total of 140 objections.

The most controversial is plans for 13 two and three bedroom homes at Peep Green Road in Hartshead, which is being recommended for approval, despite a total of 91 representations against the scheme.

The 0.44 hectare piece of land is currently used for horse grazing and is near Hartshead Junior and Infant School. A report from planners outlines how the whole of the site is allocated for housing in the Kirklees Local Plan.

Objections centre on why the land was redesignated for housing, highways safety issues, the density of homes on the site and the loss of mature meadowland.

Three of the houses would need to be affordable, and a contribution of almost £25,000 to off-site open space, would also be required.

A report to the committee states that housing on the site is considered acceptable and recommends they be approved.

A scheme for seven homes on the site of Gomersal Hall is also being recommended for approval despite a total of 28 objections.

The plans by Holroyd Miller involve demolishing the hall building to make way fro the new development, but planners believe the building is not a "heritage asset" having assessed its architectural and historic merit.

There have been a total of 28 objections to the plans, with concerns raised including the loss of protected trees, the protection of green space, the loss of a historic building and the generation of more traffic in the area.

The scheme, which involves larger detached homes, is considered acceptable by planners and is being recommended for approval.

Further plans for 13 homes on land at Heathfield Lane, Birkenshaw, are also being recommended for approval.

The application by Moonfleet is for a vacant piece of grassed land, which is allocated for housing in the Local Plan.

A total of 18 objections have been raised focusing on the loss of protected trees, air quality and highways issues. The Council's trees department has also objected to the principle of creating the access through protected trees.

Three of of the homes would need to be affordable, and a contribution of almost £25,000 to off-site open space, and £42,000 towards ecology would be required.

A fourth application, for 15 homes at Old White Lee Colliery, Heckmondwike, has been recommended for refusal following three objections.

Planners believe the scheme by Beaufort Land and Developments is unacceptable for a number of reasons, including that it would impact the openness of the green belt and would create an unacceptable risk to highway safety.

The Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee, takes place on November 4, at 1pm, and is webcast on YouTube.