Plans for homes on 'grey belt' land are set to be approved despite parish councillors' objections.

Vena Lloyd wants permission in principle for three to six homes on land off Vernon Avenue in Audley.

While the site lies within the Green Belt, planning officers at Newcastle Borough Council believe it meets the definition of grey belt, meaning development could be acceptable.

But Audley Parish Council has objected to the application, saying it conflicts with the neighbourhood plan as it lies outside the development boundary.

The parish council also claims that the scheme would amount to inappropriate development in the Green Belt. But planning officers at the borough council have recommended the application for approval, saying the location, type and amount of development is acceptable in principle.

Issues such as highway safety, amenity and visual impact will considered at the 'techinical details' stage, if permission in principle is granted.

Planning committee members at the borough council will consider the application when they meet on Tuesday.

While officers acknowledge that the development would be outside the settlement boundary, but says it 'directly abuts' the village envelope.

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The report to the committee states: "Whilst the site's location within the open countryside is noted, consideration must be given to the proximity of the site to Audley.

"Occupants of the site would only have to walk a short distance along existing footpaths to access the services and facilities within the village, all of which are considered to be sufficient to serve the day to day needs of the potential occupants of the development site. Sufficient access to public transport links is also available."

The report says that with Newcastle currently lacking a five-year housing land supply, the development would make a 'small contribution' to the supply, within a 'sustainable' location'.

Officers also argue that the site does not make a strong contribution to the purposes of the Green Belt, such as preventing unrestricted urban sprawl or stopping towns merging, and so can be classed as grey belt.

Staffordshire County Council has raised concerns over highways, saying the development would see an 'intensification of the already inadequate access arrangements'.

But the highways officers acknowledge that it would be difficult to recommend refusal at the permission in principle stage, and so have instead asked for further information to be submitted with the technical detail submission.