Controversial plans for 71 houses which would "totally destroy the character" of a rural hamlet are set to be approved in Drakelow.

The site, off Rosliston Road South, would fill a gap between existing houses on the street and the Leicester-to-Burton freight railway line.

Just to the south of Stapenhill, the Lioncourt Homes development would fill in space on a spur that protrudes into agricultural fields.

Outline permission on the site was granted at appeal in January 2015 after being refused by South Derbyshire District Council in September 2014.

The district council had rejected the application due to the site being outside the Drakelow village boundary and in a rural settlement - in which only infilling can be approved for up to two houses.

Drakelow could be getting 71 new homes

The latest application fleshes out the details of the plans and has been recommended for approval by council officers.

Of the 71 houses planned for the plot - down from 75 in the original plan - 21 will be classed as affordable housing.

There would be one access point for vehicles entering the site, to the south of the existing houses on Rosliston Road South.

The developers plan to use an existing narrow access point between 37a and 41 on Rosliston Road South for emergency vehicle access, as well as a through-route for bikes and walkers.

There are also plans for a play area in the south-east corner of the plot, close to the existing pond.

The developer has agreed to contribute to play facilities at Rosliston Forestry Centre as part of the application.

It would also make a contribution to create 11 more secondary school places at William Allitt School.

A minimum of two car parking spaces per property are proposed for the site.

A statement from the developers reads: "The 'vision' for the development of land at the Rosliston Road South, Drakelow site calls for a framework which will provide a new high-quality development to the residential area of Rosliston Road, which will not only benefit future occupants and users but also the neighbouring areas by bringing a vacant site into use.

"The key objectives are: to create a distinctive development, both in built form and public realm, of a substance and quality which will enhance, and integrate within, the existing development on the edge of Drakelow."

Despite being close to a railway line, district council officers state that "no specific noise mitigation measures will be required".

Residents objecting to the development said it would "would totally destroy the character of the hamlet" and cause a privacy breach for existing houses on the site.

They also say the housing supply in the area will be more-than met by 2,239 new houses at Drakelow Park, off Walton Road.

The mammoth development, approved in 2012, also includes a primary school, £3.8 million contribution to secondary school places and £4.2 million for highways improvements for the area, which include a new Walton bypass to connect the site to the A38.

It also includes healthcare facilities, parks, play areas, sports pitches and £500,000 for local bus services.

The application for 71 homes will be debated by district councillors on the planning committee on Tuesday, June 5.