NINETY homes look set to be built on the site of a former Derby school after council officers recommended the scheme for approval – despite objections from local residents.

The Radleigh Group is the latest firm to submit plans to redevelop the old Merrill College site following two previous applications.

The officers have suggested councillors give the scheme the go-ahead when the planning committee meets on Thursday, saying that it is "suitably" designed and would not have a detrimental affect on neighbours.

But people living nearby have sent 16 letters of objection and submitted a 49-name petition against the plans.

Chellaston ward councillor Philip Ingall has also raised concerns.

He said: "It is overpopulated, there are far too many houses and it is not in keeping with the surrounding area. Also, they want to build a lot of social houses in an area where there are not many; it's just not right."

It is the third time plans for the controversial site have been submitted.

In 2007, Taylor Wimpey Developments applied to build 100 houses there but permission was refused after residents raised concerns about traffic congestion and a lack of infrastructure to cope with the extra people moving into the area.

The firm then resubmitted an application with amendments, including the loss of five homes, and was given the go-ahead despite more letters of objection.

But Taylor Wimpey never started work on the site.

Now, Radleigh Group has submitted an application to build 90 properties, including two-bedroom apartments and houses with two, three or four bedrooms.

Radleigh has applied for £1.9m from the Government for its scheme. The cash would come from the Kickstart programme, which was introduced to push forward construction projects that had stalled during the economic downturn.

The scheme would be made up of a mix of new homes to buy, low-cost homes to rent and home buy direct properties, where buyers purchase 70% of the property but own 100%, with the Government and Radleigh making up the remaining 30%.

The site is vacant following the demolition of the school in 2006. It was the upper site of Merrill College, which was vacated in July 2005.

Pupils were moved to new buildings in Brackens Lane, Alvaston, together with the lower-site children, who were based in Uppermoor Road, Allenton.