A civic society is backing plans by a choir school to create an assembly hall and sports hall, along with a housing development.

But the expansion plans, at Ripon Cathedral Choir School, have brought protests from neighbours.

The school, in Whitcliffe Lane, has already received outline permission for a nursery and pre-preparatory school.

A planning officer's report says the school's business plan regards the development as necessary to secure the school's future.

The original school building will remain, with the new developments behind it.

Also, the development includes ten houses.

Supporting the project, Ripon Civic Society recalled that an earlier application had several features unacceptable to residents, and the developer had made substantial changes.

The civic society said the project would greatly benefit the school, without impairing neighbours' environmental enjoyment.

But the scheme has drawn 31 letters of protest, on issues including increased traffic, lack of parking, loss of greenfield land, a playing field and residential amenity and light pollution

Harrogate Borough Council planning committee will consider the application at Ripon on Tuesday, when planning officer Mark Williams will recommend the application be refused.

He said ten houses on a greenfield site outside city development limits conflicted with two key planning policies. And because the development provided no exceptional and substantial planning benefit, it would be contrary to Local Plan policy.

The scheme would also result in loss of recreational open space, he said