Housing plans for a former Newsome school site should be given the go-ahead, Kirklees planning officers say.

The council wants outline planning permission for housing on Stile Common Infant and Nursery School at Plane Street, Newsome.

The school closed in 2009 and was replaced by the new Hillside Primary School. The former school has been razed and the site is now key to Kirklees Council’s plans to boost housing numbers as one of three sites identified for a West Yorkshire Local Growth Fund bid to develop a business case for development.

But there is opposition to the plan, with a petition of 73 against and 14 individual options, plus Clr Julie Stewart-Turner, Newsome Green, has opposed saying: “I believe that 75 units would be over development of the site.

“I’ve just looked through the tree survey, which does highlight some of the lovely mature trees on the land to the south of the site. It is unclear from the information provided how many trees will be at risk from this proposal, and we would not want to lose the majority of these trees.”

The number of potential houses is unknown, with different council reports indicating 54 or 75. However the outline planning application to be considered by the Strategic Planning Committee is to establish the principle for residential on the site, with all other matters including number of houses reserved until a full planning application is submitted.

Site of former Stile Common Infants & Nursery School, Plane Street.

Health and safety issues have been raised, but while the Coal Authority raise no formal objection they ask for “intrusive site investigation work” prior to development to establish any coal mining legacy issues.

Kirklees planning officers signal support for the scheme under delegation back to them to resolve outstanding issues.

They conclude: “The principle of residential development on this brownfield site is considered to be acceptable. All matters are reserved for future approval but it is considered the application site can be accessed safely in highway terms.

“There would be no harmful effect on visual or residential amenity. Subject to conditions, ecological matters, contaminated land, air quality and land stability issues would be addressed. A drainage survey is awaited and drainage issues remain outstanding.”

Councillors will rule on the plan at Thursday’s committee meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall.