DETAILED plans for 32 affordable homes in Birstall are being recommended for approval when the scheme goes before planners tomorrow.

The bid, by Stonewater Housing Association, is for a 1.05 hectare site at Fields Head Lane near to Oakwell Country Park, which is the site of a disused railway viaduct that has already been backfilled.

Outline planning permission was granted in 2018 including the access point to the site, but the latest application is to determine layout scale, appearance and landscaping.

Ward councillor Elizabeth Smaje has called for the application to go before Kirklees Council's Heavy Woollen planning sub-committee and for its members to visit the site.

Her concerns relate to the height difference in the land and the proximity of the proposed three storey homes to existing properties.

Cllr Smaje (Con, Birstall and Birkenshaw) states: "As the height of the land is slightly higher than Highfield Drive I am concerned about the closeness of the new properties in particular the height of the three storey houses so close to existing properties is not acceptable.

"Highfield Drive itself is narrow and therefore the existing properties will be close to the boundary of the new development.

"If new properties are higher than existing this is going to have an impact on visual impact and light."

A total of two objections have been submitted to the Council focusing on similar issues, namely that the proximity of the new homes and their gable ends to the homes on Highfield Drive would have an adverse effect on residential amenity and result in the loss of light.

A letter in support praises the proposed route for a footpath into Oakwell Park.

A report by Council planners to the sub-committee meeting on Thursday, December 5, details how all 32 homes would be affordable, with 24 available at an affordable rent, and eight for shared ownership.

The Council's own policy of affordable housing would normally only require a provision of 20 per cent of homes to be affordable - six in this case.

The house types are for mainly semi-detached properties, with some terraced, which is comparable to the neighbouring area, according to planners.

The homes would be two storey and are to be built of brick and tile, reflecting the scale and appearance of neighbouring homes, they add.

Planners detail how amendments to internal site levels have resulted in an amended scheme with a "significantly reduced finish height" for one of the plots to better the relationship with homes on Highfield Drive.

A contribution of £57,523 to off-site public open space along with the provision of a pedestrian cycleway would be the subject of a legal agreement, should the scheme be approved.

The meeting begins at 1pm.