A controversial housing development that locals have been fighting for nearly two decades has been recommended for approval. 

Officers at Rutland County Council have suggested to the council's planning committee that they give the go ahead to national builder Taylor Wimpey's scheme to build 140 homes off Brooke Road in Oakham. 

The development, proposed for green fields in the northern area of the county town, has been fought for many years by nearby residents who say the site is not suitable for new houses due to its proximity to a level crossing on the eastern boundary of the site and the already high levels of traffic in the area. 

The impact on the local wildlife has also been a concern and at the recent local plan hearing, the founder of Oakham South Action Group, Monica Stark, told Taylor Wimpey to 'take your tanks off our lawn'.  

The council has received 320 objection letters following a consultation on the application. 

The scheme is not in the Local Plan – the masterplan for the development of Rutland – and has always been considered to not be suitable due to its countryside location and highways issues. 

The builder is proposing 140 homes, plus a new car park for nearby school Brooke Hill School, a play area and a new wildlife area. 

The highways department had previously raised concerns but has now removed an objection after the plans to alter the junction of Brooke Road and Welland Way were removed.  

The highways team say that 'there is capacity for the traffic levels proposed' and have assessed that if approved there would be 'no unacceptable impact on highway safety'. 

The county council's planning officers say that because the authority does not have a five year land supply – areas of land mapped out for housing to cover its five year quota – so it must approve the plan, unless it is considered that the adverse impacts of the scheme would significantly outweigh the benefits.  

The authority's planning policies are also considered out of date by the government if the authority cannot demonstrate a five-year land supply. 

After weighing up all considerations, the officers have concluded the benefits are greater than the disadvantages. 

The report says: "There are therefore no adverse impacts of the proposal that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh its benefits, specifically the contribution towards the provision of the required housing supply resulting from the calculation of housing need set out in the National Planning Policy Framework." 

The council, which also acts as the lead local flood authority, has no objections although the planning officers are awaiting information from network rail. The Birmingham to Peterborough railway line is close to the site and the level crossing is in use throughout the day. 

In line with the council's policy, 30 per cent of the homes – which equates to 42 homes – must be affordable. Homes classified as affordable are those for sale or rent to people who cannot afford to buy or rent from the private market. 

The affordable homes element will be part of the conditions, however in May, the county council gave another national builder Persimmon, permission to reduce the affordable homes quota for its development off Cold Overton Road in Langham.  

The builder was allowed to reduce the number of affordable homes from 10 to just two, after the builder's head of partnership homes said it had been unable to find an affordable housing provider to take the homes on and that this was a national issue. Head of planning at RCC Roger Ransom said that it was a 'heavy heart' that he recommended the councillors allow the builder to reduce the number. 

The meeting will take place on Tuesday at RCC's Catmose House headquarters 7pm. The planning committee, made up of elected councillors, will make the final decision. 

Monica Stark says residents are 'up in arms' and the lack of a five-year land supply should not be the overriding consideration when deciding if the plan is approved. She says the claims about sufficient capacity on the road are incorrect and the highways authority has not counted in other local developments that are coming forward. 

She said: "It is never going to be a site that is developable. It is not sustainable. Brooke Road is not a proper road, it's a former car track. Mitigation that Taylor Wimpey is proposing, such as taking away the ancient verges – we say is in contravention of guidance." 

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: "Our planning application for new homes on the edge of Oakham has been considered by the local authority and recommended for approval. The application was supported by a number of detailed technical reports demonstrating the suitability of the site for development. 

"The proposals will deliver a range of community benefits, including 42 affordable homes, highway improvements along Brooke Road, a new pick-up and drop-off car park opposite Brooke Hill Academy, and the creation of a landscaped wildlife area to enhance local biodiversity."