Plans for 70 affordable homes in Castle Gresley are set for approval despite scores of objections from residents.

The application, from affordable housing firm East Midlands Homes, would see the cut-price houses built off Oak Close.

South Derbyshire District Council planners have now recommended the plans for approval, two years after they were submitted and despite more than 70 objecting residents.

A final decision will be made by councillors at a meeting on Tuesday, June 1 in Grove Hall, Swadlincote, from 6pm.

Of the 70 homes, 44 would be for affordable rent – 80 per cent of the area's market value – while the remaining 26 would be for cut-price ownership.

Castle Gresley Parish Council has opposed the plans, saying: "Capacity of infrastructure is not able to take further additional demands from new development. Doctors, school places, drainage, roads are already inadequate.

"Flooding is already an issue as existing Oak Close properties sit below the fields and proposed site and the development would only exacerbate the current situation where existing homes are being flooded

"The development does not include plans to contribute or provide the necessary infrastructure currently lacking or not existing in the immediate area including the following: doctors, dentists, roads, education etc.

"Linton Primary school said 70 new homes would create 100 plus place requirements and they have already been exceeded for this educational year, even after recent extension with current admission numbers the school will struggle for space to accommodate more pupils.

"Rosliston and Overseal surgeries both closed, resulting in patients going elsewhere and there is a wait time for general GP appointment of four weeks further exacerbated by Covid-19 which can now be up to six weeks."

A total of 74 residents wrote objecting letters in the first round of consultation over the plans, followed by 48 in the second round

Here are some of their comments: "It is already dangerous for school children crossing A444 from Castle Gresley to reach school buses and this will be worsened as a result of the development."

"There are multiple other brownfield sites that can come forward first as opposed to this agricultural greenfield site."

"This development would merge Linton and Castle Gresley which are two distinctly different character villages as this is the land that separates them."

"There will be a great deal of noise from an additional 70-280 more people in a peaceful hamlet."

"The site currently acts like a sponge to absorb water in a large area where soakaways aren't viable and as such once development happens this will intensify flooding issues.

"Surrounding recent residential developments didn't flood prior to development and now they do, this already floods and therefore will be worsened by the development."

Council officers say the site has been allocated by the authority as a plot on which housing would be suitable, but this had been an earmarking for 55 homes, not 70.

The applicant has said that it would not be able to pay most of the other Section 106 commitments – payments to offset the impact to roads, schools and health services – if it is to build a development which is all affordable housing.

A total of £874,000 in payments to schools and health services had been drawn up due to the impact of the 70 homes.

This was to create 11 spaces at Linton Primary School; 20 spots at The Pingle Academy; 246 new items at Swadlincote Library; and support for 175 more patients at Gresleydale Healthcare Centre.

East Midlands Homes said it can pay £123,000 towards flood management works.

However, instead of the remaining hundreds of thousands of pounds of payments to health services and schools, £12,750 will be paid by the developer to Derbyshire County Council for school expansion, and the same sum to NHS Estates for potential expansions in the area.

Council officers say the Swadlincote South area – in which the development would sit – is "a location of exceptional affordable housing demand".

They say three quarters of all applicants to the council's housing waiting list have selected the Swadlincote South area as their preferred place to live.

Council officers, recommending approval, wrote: "The principle of the development is considered acceptable.

"Full financial contributions requested to be directed towards local facilities to ensure the development is sustainable following increased demand as a result of the development cannot be provided as it would render the development unviable.

"£25,500 can be provided towards much-needed NHS estates and education facilities, alongside the provision of greatly-needed and somewhat specialised affordable housing in an area requiring affordable housing provision and a betterment of flood and water management for the site and immediate surrounding area.

"None of the other matters raised through the publicity and consultation process amount to material considerations outweighing the assessment of the main issues."

A statement submitted by the applicant, as part of the initial application, said: "This current planning application for the construction of 70 new homes offers positive development for the area, much-needed affordable housing accommodation and is complementary and sensitive to its immediate surroundings.

"The construction of good quality traditional dwellings will be attractive to local residents and future residents and shared owners alike, and will integrate the development into this area of Castle Gresley.

"The development seeks to increase the supply, quality and breadth of choice of affordable homes in sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities.

"The proposed affordable homes will be well-designed and well-built housing in what is a sustainable location, which offers a good range of facilities and with good access to jobs, key services and infrastructure.

If approved, the site would have a total of 142 parking spaces.

The project would also include a large "natural play" area, including a timber hut, balance beams, timber plank "pyramid", a seven-stone tower – with large rocks stacked to make a climbing frame – and also a rock climbing frame with fixed handholds.

A wild flower meadow would also be planted alongside this park including plants which will attract bees.