FIFTY houses and 58 apartments are a step closer to being built on Kidderminster's former livestock market.

Wyre Forest District Council planners have given the thumbs-up to the details of the plan for Comberton Place, which was given outline permission nearly three years ago.

Planning officer Mike Parker said the new development would provide "a pleasant environment" for residents.

The houses and flats, which will be accessed from Hoo Road, will consist of a mixture of low-cost affordable homes and social housing, to be provided through Wyre Forest Community Housing.

The council's planning (development control) committee approved the scheme subject to applicant Miller Homes agreeing to pay £50,000 for improving leisure facilities in Brinton Park, as building the required number of social and affordable houses means on-site leisure facilities will not be provided.

Another £50,000 has been requested to improve and instal traffic calming in Hoo Road, which lies to the west of the site.

The market closed in 1998 and has since been derelict. Auction sale rings, a cafeteria, the former Market Tavern pub and some single storey retail outlets running parallel to Hoo Road will be demolished to make way for the development.

Thirty-two of the units, 30 per cent of the scheme, will be for social housing while there will be 24 one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom homes and a blend of detached, semi-detached and terraced housing.