PLANS for a controversial housing development that faced almost 100 objections when it was last submitted are set to go before councillors again.

The proposal to build 44 new homes on vacant land known as Pilmoor Hill, between Stanley Grove and Gilling Road, Richmond, was submitted for outline planning permission last year.

Despite concerns about road safety around the site, council officials have warned councillors that the site has been earmarked for housing for more than 30 years and there has to be an “overwhelming” reason to reject the plans.

The application was deferred by the planning committee at Richmondshire District Council in December to allow the Highways Agency to look at alternative access to the site.

The proposal, which has been submitted by Lord Ronaldshay, of the Zetland Estate, will be considered again for outline planning permission at a special meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday.

In a report prepared for the special meeting, officers say that the Highways Agency considered several option for alternative entry points to the estate, namely a direct entry point from Gilling Road, but concluded that this was not feasible.

An access road through the Aske Hall estate, which stands to the north of the open ground, was considered but dismissed because of the historic nature of the parks and gardens.

The majority of the 82 private objectors to the plans at the last meeting were concerned about the proposal to use Stanley Grove and Laburnum Grove, which have 117 houses, as the two access points to Pilmoor Hill.

Objectors feared that the increase in traffic from the 44 new properties would be too much for the already busy roads to handle, especially in Stanley Grove, where the narrowness and tight angle of the road have caused several accidents.

However, the Highways Agency reports that these two roads are the only possible options for access to the site and that minor adjustments can be made to make them safer for increased traffic.

In the report, planning officer Brian Hodges said: “The fact that this site is, and has been since 1978, allocated for housing development is a very significant factor in considering this application for planning permission.

“With such a clear and longstanding policy commitment, there would have to be an overwhelming weight of other material considerations to set aside the development plan.

“There are no overriding factors at all which would suggest that outline planning permission should not be granted.”

Outline planning permission is an agreement, in principle, to a proposed development, without being committed to a particular form of design or layout.

If the committee agrees to outline permission, the plans must be submitted for full planning permission, which would determine the exact layout and details of the site.

The special meeting of the planning committee is on Tuesday at 6.30pm in the council chamber, Swale House, Frenchgate, Richmond.