Controversial plans to turn a residential home in Heaton into a hostel for asylum seekers looks set to be refused this week.

A planning application was submitted last month by 18-year-old Amir Hussain to turn the nine-bedroom semi-detached Norman Arch Residential Home on Emm Lane into a hostel housing up to 20 asylum seekers.

But the plan, which comes before Shipley Area Panel on Thursday, has been recommended for refusal.

Residents, who claimed the plan would destroy the fabric of Heaton life, spoke today of their relief at the recommendation.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "I am really glad. It wasn't a sensible place for an asylum hostel so I am pleased that it is likely to be refused.

''We had a lot of concerns about the noise, the fact that the place is not really suitable for so many people, and how it would affect the area."

Another Emm Lane resident said they were not against the asylum seekers.

"Heaton is a residential area and trying to put a lot of people into a home once occupied by elderly people was obviously not going to work," he said.

Heaton resident Elizabeth Hellmich said: "If it had been a smaller property and one family was going to live there it wouldn't have been a problem.

"If you have people in smaller properties there is the opportunity for both sides to mix and learn from each other. Having a large group of people in one area is isolating.

"Heaton has undergone a lot of changes and we need to sort out our problems before we create new ones."

Councillor John Carroll (Con, Shipley West) said: "I am pleased this proposal is recommended for refusal. I will speak at the meeting in support of refusal."

Meanwhile, Emm Lane and Mariner's Drive residents are also gearing up to protest about plans to extend The Park pub's opening times.

Manager Mark Attwood said: "We are planning a small extension of about seven metres and an extension of opening hours but the latest the pub would be open until is 12.30am to 1am at the very latest."

Coun Carroll said: "Making it bigger and adding extra opening hours will only serve to make the situation worse.

"The main reasons given for refusing the hostel in Emm Lane are significant harm to the community, noise and disturbance and I believe these reasons hold good for the Park application."