PLANS to scrap a Hampshire town’s waste and recycling centre and build nearly 100 homes have taken a giant step closer.

Up to 94 homes could be built off Woodside Avenue in Eastleigh on a site which is currently home to a Hampshire County Council waste facility.

Councillors are being advised to give the First Wessex housing association proposal the green light when they meet next week.

As previously reported, the waste centre is to be relocated before work starts at the 2.5 hectare site which also includes the former homes of the Southampton and District Motorcycle Club, British Red Cross, Aid Cadets and Girl Guides.

Up to 35 per cent of the homes would be affordable with the rest privately owned in a development that would include one and two bedroom flats and both detached and terraced houses with between two and four bedrooms.

The plan would involve building a four-way traffic controlled junction with Woodside Avenue, opposite the access road for Channon Retail Park and Judd Close.

It would also see public open space acting as a “heart to the scheme”.

Planners received five objections to the scheme during a consultation programme including fears over extra traffic and parking issues on surrounding roads. Others felt too many homes were being earmarked for the site.

But outline planning permission has been recommended for approval by planning experts at Eastleigh Borough Council.

Members of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee will discuss the proposals when they meet on January 14 at the town’s Civic Offices.