The site of former rail sidings on Walkley Lane, Heckmondwike could become the home to an ambitious project to farm fish for food in an environmentally sound way.

The project is being planned by the Green Business Network which already runs a similar scheme in Wakefield called the Able project. If it gets the go-ahead the project will also provide social education for Kirklees young people and could also host a visitor attraction linked to the Spen Valley Greenway.

Kirklees Council's cabinet is due to approve the plan in principal at its meeting tomorrow.

The Wakefield scheme farms mirror carp, koi carp, tilapia and sturgeon - which could eventually produce caviar.

Graham Wiles of the Green Business Network says that the Walkley Lane project would host a bigger fish farm and would provide a training and education programme for youngsters excluded from school and those on community punishment orders.

"This is an innovative project with an eco build which will not only provide fish for food but also a training resource," he said. "It may also be possible to host a coffee shop and toilets for people making use of the Spen Valley Greenway."