A £6 MILLION housing development on the site of a former York school could be approved next week despite fears that it may harm a neighbouring common.

Planners at City of York Council have recommended giving the go-ahead for social landlord Yorkshire Housing to build 56 homes – most of which would be affordable housing – at the Our Lady’s RC Primary School site in Acomb.

The organisation has said the project could be the first of many in York.

The Windsor Garth site lies within the protected Hob Moor Stray, and the Friends of Hob Moor have opposed the scheme after saying it would “seriously erode” its setting and harm the nearby nature reserve.

York Natural Environment Panel has also raised concerns about this.

Other objections have come from Kingsway Area Residents Association, which claims dozens of new homes would put too much strain on local services and cause traffic problems, and from 11 local residents.

If approved by the council’s planning committee next Thursday, 41 of the two and three-bedroom homes would be available for social rent.

The council has said housing in York must be made more affordable, and this is among the reasons for its draft Local Plan setting targets of 22,000 new homes across the city, which has led to controversy as many potential development sites are on green belt land.

Yorkshire Housing would buy the land from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, saying the scheme would help ease overcrowding and reduce the number of families living in “unsuitable” homes. In a report, council planner Erik Matthews said the development would potentially have a significant visual impact on Hob Moor, but planning conditions and agreements would “safeguard” the common’s boundary.

The report said the scheme’s design tied in with other nearby homes and local roads could cope if measures to encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport were included.

Mr Matthews said: “The provision of an additional 41 affordable units would have a significant impact on the wider need in the city for affordable housing.”

Our Lady’s merged with English Martyrs RC Primary School at a new site on Hamilton Drive last year, becoming Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School.