A SCHEME to build a new B&M store and garden centre on the edge of Heckmondwike town centre looks set to be rejected as the land is now officially allocated for housing.

The outline application by Wharfdale Ltd is for land adjacent to 127 Westgate, with Algernon Firth Park to one side and homes to the other.

Kirklees Council planners previously recommended the scheme on brownfield land be rejected as the derelict land was set to be allocated for housing.

However, now the Local Plan development blueprint has been adopted, the land is allocated for housing.

As such a decision on the revised plans, which has seen a KFC drive through dropped from the scheme altogether, is expected to be made at the strategic planning committee on March 14.

A report to the meeting states that the application was deferred from a meeting in November to allow the applicant the chance to provide additional information to address concerns from those organisations consulted.

"The original proposal was to construct two retail units with an overall area of approximately 2,800 square metres and a drive through restaurant with associated car parking, landscaping and infrastructure.

"However, this proposal has now been amended and the drive through element has been deleted from the proposal.

"In addition the remaining units have been moved to the west of their original position to avoid the existing mature trees adjacent to the eastern boundary of the site and the car parking arrangements have been re-designed to allow for the provision of a landscape buffer along the western boundary of the site."

Previously the plans were expected to create 90 full and part time jobs, but the revised scheme is still expected to provide a "significant number" of jobs.

Planning officers believe there is a "significant conflict with the local plan allocation" and how the Council seeks to address its current housing supply deficit.

As the site is outside of Heckmondwike town centre, the applicatn must demonstrate that there are no other suitable sites and that this proposal would not affect existing businesses.

According to the report, Wharfdale provided an assessment, which outlined that there were no suitable available sites and that it would bring "positive changes" through wider consumer choice for the area.

Officers did not initially consider the analysis sufficiently robust, so a revised assessment has been provided, which officers now believe is acceptable in principle.

The original proposals resulted in nine objections being lodged with the Council, with a further four complaints submitted after the revisions were made.

Spen Valley Civic Society has also objected to the scheme, saying: "The proposed retail development is outside of the designated Heckmondwike town centre and so should not be supported.

"A retail development is not appropriate for this site. The neighbouring residential area will be adversely affected, particularly in respect of noise."

The meeting is at 1pm.