Plans to build up to eight houses on Green Belt land are set to be allowed 'in principle'.

Two applications have been submitted to develop fields on either side of Hazeley Paddocks, on Keele Road, near Madeley Heath.

The applications seek 'permission in principle', which is an alternative form of planning consent, where the principle of development is considered first with technical details being submitted later.

One application is for between two and six homes on land to the west of Hazeley Paddocks, while the other is for one or two dwellings on land to the east.

Both the applications have been recommended for approval by officers at Newcastle Borough Council. The applications have been called in to the planning committee due to a number of concerns, including highway safety, the loss of farmland and inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

Six letters of objection have been submitted to the council, raising these and other issues, such as over-development and loss of privacy.

In his objection, Madeley Heath resident Michael Dickinson states: "Development should fall in line with the pattern of existing properties in the area, this would not. Any further development will not fit in with the existing properties on the road as it will be very prominent within the landscape and considerably change the look of the area.

"The expansion of the settlement at Madeley Heath towards Keele would cause concerns over both settlement splay and merger in the future."

But officers say that the sites meet the definition of 'grey belt', meaning that development would be considered appropriate. Grey belt, a concept introduced in new national planning rules, is land which is technically in the Green Belt, but where development which meets certain criteria could be acceptable.

According to the report to the committee, the development of the sites would not be amount to 'unrestricted sprawl of a large built up area', nor would it result in neighbouring towns merging into each other, meaning the land meets the criteria for grey belt.

The report states: "It is considered that the location, type and amount of development proposed is acceptable in principle and these are the only matters which can be assessed in applications for permission in principle."

Issues such as highway safety and residential amenity would be assessed under separate applications for technical details consent, if permission in principle is granted – development cannot begin until these application are approved. Planning committee members will consider the permission in principle applications when they meet on Tuesday, September 9.