A PLAN to build 43 new affordable homes on the site of an old reservoir in York is likely to be blocked by councillors this week.

Yorkshire Housing have drawn up proposals for 22 two-bedroom and 21 three-bedroom houses on Severus Hill, off Bouthwaite Drive, Acomb, saying they would help tackle the city’s housing crisis and provide families with badly-needed homes.

Plans first went in to City of York Council in the summer, but dozens of people objected to them. Neighbours were unhappy about the prospect of building on such a small green space, and other worries were raised by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust - as the land is an official Site of Interest for Nature

Conservation; and the councils highways managers.

Officials responsible for green space raised their own concerns, and said: "Whilst the scheme aims to provide much needed affordable housing, the quality of the environment would be poor.

"Holgate ward in which there is already an overall deficit of open space, in particular that for children, teenagers, and natural and semi-natural/amenity space. The strips of ‘neutral grassland’ on the surrounding slopes would be inaccessible, and would not function as open space."

Now a report published ahead of a key meeting on Thursday shows planning officials have recommended the plans be refused permission, because of the impact new homes would have on people already living in the area - as well as the impact on views of York Minster, wildlife on the wooded hillside, road problems and other worries.

At the same meeting, councillors are due to decide on a care home company's plan for a site in Fulford.

Octopus Healthcare have bought the former Fordlands care home, and want to knock down the old building to replace it with a new purpose built 64-bed facility.

Those plans have already been revised once to address worries from neighbours, and planners are now recommending they get the go-ahead, despite objections from Fulford's Parish Council who say the development is far too large for the site.

Octopus's director of development Lyth Watson welcomed the recommendation and said: "Our proposals will transform this key brownfield site into a high quality, modern care facility that will help to meet the large shortfall in care places in York over the coming years. We look forward to working with local councillors and the community in helping to realise the significance of this much needed care development.”