A FORMER prison garden looks set to be converted into a housing estate, despite objections from neighbours.

HM Prison Service has applied to Hambleton District Council for outline consent to turn its former prison garden, in Northallerton, into a housing development.

Although the number of proposed dwellings is not stated in the application, access arrangements are designed to cope with about 75 properties.

About half will be built by the Broadacres Housing Association in a town where authorities claim another 200 homes are needed.

The 6.3 acre garden between Valley Road, Knotto Bottom Lane and Cotcliffe Avenue is leased, in part, by independent horticultural operators running a specialist herb and mushroom business.

The firm, which employs ten people and has leased the land until 2004, is objecting to the proposals.

Another 15 residents have also written to the district council objecting to the plans because of increased traffic reaching the new development from the Valley Road cul-de-sac, which would be widened to cope with the extra cars.

Residents also say their parking facilities will be disrupted, as widening the cul-de-sac will prevent on-street parking and a number of private garages rented by the residents will also be lost.

However, planning officers are recommending the plans be accepted and argue that replacement parking can be found.

Local concerns about increased traffic are also dismissed by the officers.

The Prison Service plans to build a roundabout in Valley Road and a new junction with Valley Road cul-de-sac to help cope with the extra traffic.

Hambleton District Council's Development Control Committee will consider the application on Thursday.

Councillor David Blades said that although he could understand residents' concerns about the development, he welcomed the fact that half of the homes to be built there would be affordable housing.

"Northallerton needs affordable housing, so I feel that the benefits of this outweigh the disadvantages.