A NEW development of flats is set to be turned down amid a raft of concerns from planners. The scheme for 12 apartments on Windy Bank Lane in Liversedge, has already been downsized twice, from 18 originally.

But Kirklees Council planners still believe the proposed outline development, would be too intensive for the urban green space plot.

The scheme is next to a existing residential development, Hartshead Court, of four detached homes and four bungalows.

To two sides of the site is an former school playing field. While it is currently allocated as urban green space in the existing Unitary Development Plan, the third of an acre site is part of a larger potential housing allocation in the authority’s emerging Local Plan blueprint.

According to planning documents accompanying the application by Mr S Russell, the “underutilised and overgrown land” currently forms part of the garden at his property, 5 Windy Bank Lane.

“This proposal to redevelop the site will provide much needed extra housing for the area. The design of the new proposed retirement apartments will be sympathetic in terms of layout, height and construction to the existing houses.”

“The opportunity to develop this site would greatly enhance the local economic environment by bringing increased business to local shops and services.”

It adds: “The site lends itself very well to the building of new retirement apartments.”

Planners have received a total of ten letters outlining objections to the scheme, and one letter of support.

Officers are recommending the plans be refused when it goes before the authority’s strategic planning panel next week.

They are concerned that the site is urban green space, that there is a lack of affordable housing in the plans; that the apartments are an overdevelopment of the site; that there is insufficient information about bin storage and collection, a speed survey and access points; and the use of the front and rear garden areas for parking are likely to disturb neighbours.

The report states: “The amended scheme is three storey in height, and fills the entire width of the site apart from a single car width access to the rear parking area of the site.

“When approaching the site from the south the proposal will result in an overly dominant structure out of scale and character with its surroundings, detrimental to the visual character and amenities of the area.

A decision is expected to be made at the strategic planning panel, which meets on Thursday, September 7.