HOUSING plans for the site of demolished Otley primary school Thomas Chippendale Primary are moving closer to approval.

Developer Lovell Partnerships Ltd revealed its scheme last year for a small housing estate of 50 flats and houses at the site of the closed school off Weston Ridge at a public exhibition at Otley Civic Centre.

And today, Leeds Plans Panel (West) will learn that the scheme, which has been reduced by ten units, appears to be largely acceptable with just six members of the public raising concerns ranging from highways safety to not enough affordable housing provision.

Panel members will be asked to comment about the scheme, which includes the retention of the existing Weston Lane community centre and former school playing fields, ahead of a recommendation which is expected in the near future.

The scheme features 34 houses of two, three and four bedrooms, and a three storey block of ten one and two bedroom apartments.

A quarter of the homes, or 11, are to be affordable and access will be retained through the site to the community centre and to the playing fields.

A report to today's meeting at Leeds Civic Hall, says that the design of the homes is considered acceptable and that Otley Town Council has raised no objection -- other than money be allocated towards highways safety improvements and to the playing fields and that a third of the site be made affordable.

Members will be told that residential use of the site is acceptable and the layout of the homes fairly traditional, featuring a mix of two, two and a half and three storeys. Access will be from Weston Ridge and will mean the removal of some trees -- for which Lovells plans to replant.

Each of the flats will have one parking place, plus an extra four for the whole block, and each of the houses will have either two parking places or a parking place and a garage.

In addition, Lovell plans to provide six parking places for the community centre.

The report points out that no on-site greenspace is included, although the former school playing fields are close by and protected in the UDP, and should be improved using contributions from the developer.

Councillors will be asked to consider a detailed scheme for the playing fields including improvements to the existing junior sports pitch and associated green areas for public use.

Five flats and six of the three-bedroom homes will be affordable with six social rented and five sub-market housing, discussions have already taken place with Pennine Housing Association.