A CONTROVERSIAL housing scheme for almost 100 homes on former greenbelt land is being recommended for approval by council planners.

The scheme for green fields off Cliffe Lane, Gomersal, involves demolishing an existing house to allow entry to the site.

Leeds firm KCS Development submitted its outline plans for the site earlier this year, initially wanting to build 92 homes on the site.

But following further discussion with Kirklees Council planners the number of houses has been revised to 98 for the site.

The bid itself has sparked a number of objections from those living nearby with a total of 135 representations being lodged with the Council.

These raise concerns about the loss of part of the countryside and the impact on the local village character, as well as the unacceptable impact on residential amenity in the area, particularly the overshadowing of nearby bungalows.

An increase in traffic and the impact on highway safety, as well as the access point, were also key points raised in the objections.

The site itself was classed as greenbelt but was allocated for housing in the recently-adopted Local Plan.

In a report to the Council's strategic planning committee, planners state that there are some issues regarding ownership of the wider site allocated for housing, and that development of this section could affected access to the remaining land and its potential future development.

It states: "The site allcoation consists of multiple landowners and this planning application does not include the land owner to the north east of the site allocation.

"The Local Plan Inspector had specifically stated that access for the site allocation should be taken from Cliffe Lane and not Ferrand Lane.

"The initial site layout plan showed that access would not be able to be achieved with the site to the north east, hence this site would be considered to be undevelopable and contrary to policy LP5 of the Local Plan.

"This issue was idenfitied during the planning application process and officers encouraged all of the concerned parties to work together in addressing this matter."

Discussions have taken place, but "no agreement has been formed to bring the entire allocation forward in one application".

The applicant adds that their proposal "does not restrict the adjacent landowner submitting a planning application for residential development on their own land".

The planners add that site plans now show sufficient space has been provided to allow for an access between the planning application site and the remainder of the site within the allocation.

Plans show an access road could serve up to five houses on the remaining field.

It has emerged that the Council has received an objection to the planning application from the neighbouring landowner, relating to the inclusion of "ransom land" within the planning application site

The landowner fears they will be left unable to develop the remaining land next to the KCS Development scheme without meeting "unreasonable" demands.

But Council planners are satisfied that the revised plans demonstrate "how there is sufficient space for an access road to be developed up to the site boundary, enabling the eventual development of the nearby site".