A FORMER York primary school site could be developed to provide 23 new homes.

Residents had fought against proposals to build new homes on the site of Oaken Grove Primary School in Haxby, York, which closed last summer. But protesters say they are happy with the latest plans.

City of York Council's planning committee granted outline planning permission for the homes scheme last April. But now Harron Homes Ltd is seeking approval for more detailed plans.

Planning officer John Ashton said the scheme would include 23 two- and three-storey houses.

He said there would be three detached houses, two pairs of semi-detached houses, one block of three terrace houses, one block of four terrace houses and a block of eight.

Christine McKenna, who strongly opposed the idea of new homes on the site, said residents were satisfied that these plans were a "compromise".

She said developers had agreed to leave the school's playing fields as green space and there would also be a community centre on the site.

She said: "We would prefer no houses on the site, full stop, as Haxby is already grossly over-developed. But we are reasonably pleased with the plans as the playing fields will be retained."

Bob Perkin, who also campaigned against the development, said he was reasonably happy with the plans as the houses would only be built on the site of the school buildings and not on any green space.

Updated: 14:08 Thursday, February 27, 2003