CONTROVERSIAL plans for 34 homes on land next to a village social club look set to be approved later this week, despite more than 200 objections.

Kirklees Council planners have recommended planning permission be granted for a scheme on land off Croft Street in Birkenshaw, which backs on to Birkenshaw Liberal Club.

Planners at the authority have assessed the proposals by former Liberal Club secretary John Atkin and his firm, Atkin’s Enterprises.

It follows a request for additional highways information and for a safety audit after a decision on the matter was deferred in August 2015.

Planners also sought amendments to the scale of four houses and changes have been made to the new access road to development and liberal club, which would have resulted in the loss of two car parking spaces at the club.

The plan has now been altered to retain those two spaces, so as not to put the Liberal club in breach of conditions relating to existing permission for a single-storey extension.

A report to Thursday’s strategic planning committee states there have been 215 letters of objection, a 50-name petition against the development and three letters of support.

The development is for a mix of 15 three-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom semi-detached, terraced and detached houses.

In relation to highways concerns, the report states: “Sight lines from the proposed new access onto Old Lane as existing are poor in both directions.

“Improvement works are therefore proposed including kerb realignment which will provide sight lines which meet recommended standards while maintaining acceptable carriageway and footway widths on Old Lane.

“An independent safety audit has been prepared by the applicants covering all aspects of these works.”

The report also refers to an ongoing dispute over club funds between the club and the applicant.

A decision will be made at the meeting, which takes place at Huddersfield Town Hall, from 1pm.