CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 267 homes in Brighouse are to go before councillors again next week.

The scheme for a 10.5 hectare plot at New Hey Road, Delf Hill, Shannon Road and Mount Lane, was deferred in November after committee members had concerned over a number of issues.

The housing plans, submitted by Engie, Yorkshire Housing and Thornhill Estates, have attracted hundreds of objections.

Once again planners at Calderdale Council have advised that the scheme be approved, this time providing an assessment of the amendments and information from the developers in response to the committee's concerns.

They asked for further consideration to be given to access for emergency vehicles, house design, space standards, access to open space provision, provision of a sustainability statement, and net gains for biodiversity.

Since the committee the developers have submitted amended plans which include changes to the house type designs to be more "traditional" and to reflect the local type more closely.

An amended layout aims to address concerns about open spaces, providing additional pathways and through routes, to make nearly the entire development within 200m of an area of public open space.

The amended plans have also seen changes to the Delf Hill, Lower Edge Road and Shannon Road accesses.

The Council's ecology officer has also responded to concerns about the protection of biodiversity, adding that compensation and mitigation measures had been agreed which would lead to a net gain of more than ten per cent.

At the time of the planning committee meeting last year, members, who initially wanted to refused the plans, were warned that if the decision was taken to appeal, it would be difficult to defend and a defeat could be costly.

Officers had assessed the scheme and concluded that its benefits outweighed any potential harm and were acceptable, subject to a number of conditions.

Residents and councillors also voiced their concerns about the plan.

One man, who leased a barn building which would be demolished, said: “You’re destroying everything,” raising concerns about diverse wildlife on the site including bats and birds.

Another said he had serious concerns about the impact on the area’s infrastructure including school places and GP surgeries. “The doctors are under so much pressure it’s unreal,” he said.

Others questioned the methodology used for transport assessments, for example over estimating vehicle numbers.

Nick Midgley of Rastrick Neighbourhood Forum said the group felt they had not been satisfactorily consulted.

Committee member s were told that as the Council did not have an up to date plan in place – the council’s Unitary Development Plan was adopted in 2006 and its Local Plan has not yet been approved – and did not have a five-year supply of land ready to deliver housing, national policy presumption was that plans should be approved unless it could be clearly demonstrated harm would outdo benefit.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 14.