PLANS for 56 new homes on the former site of a York primary school have gone on show.

Yorkshire Housing is looking to turn the Our Lady’s RC Primary School site in Acomb into a housing development.

Letters about the proposals have been sent to hundreds of residents and a consultation event was held in the area yesterday.

Concerns about part of the Windsor Garth scheme being built on the former playing fields and cutting into a cycle path have been raised, alongside claims an influx of new residents could place added strain on local roads, parking space and facilities.

The scheme has 27 more homes than the amount earmarked for the site in City of York Council’s draft Local Plan.

Our Lady’s closed when the school merged with English Martyrs RC Primary School to form Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School, based at a £5.75 million site on Hamilton Drive, last year.

Yorkshire Housing, which has bought the Acomb site subject to contract, said it wanted to hear residents’ views before submitting a planning application, and is hoping to start work next year if this is approved.

The development would have 41 affordable homes, with a bid for Build To Rent funding for the other 15 being made to the Homes and Communities Agency. They would be for private rent if this succeeds.

Mervyn Jones, the social landlord’s chief executive, said: “By 2015, we are building 800 new homes across Yorkshire and Our Lady’s Primary School is one of a number of sites we are looking at across York.

“Like many other cities, York is in desperate need of new affordable homes.”

Yorkshire Housing said it would not build on the nearby Hob Moor Nature Reserve and it plans a landscaped “buffer” between the open space and the development, but Westfield resident and ex-council leader Steve Galloway said he feared this area would still be harmed.

“There is already a lot of pressure on public services in the Windsor Garth area – roads are narrow, play facilities minimal and bus services infrequent, and there is little in the way of community facilities,” he said.

“There must be real concern that such intensive developments will put even greater pressure on a neighbourhood already ranked high on the Government’s list of deprived areas.”